Why Do Heavy Drinkers Outlive Nondrinkers?

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2014332,00.html

Because the beer lobby has lots of money and current science has become a sinkhole. There's also a fight against recent proposals for tighter state alcohol regulations and higher taxes. Though moderate drinking (1 drink daily) is overall healthful, the notion based in fairly solid science.

Or could be because alcohol is a powerful stress reliever?

Could be that people who let loose and drink a lot tend to have a more stress free attitude about things. Heavy drinking also usually means more socializing and more getting laid.

I believe in the stress part - better sleep etc. People who tend to have trouble sleeping due to stress and such, is in greater risk of developing diseases related to the heart and blood vessels.

I also agree about the stress, some people are always relaxed and seem to approach life with a careless attitude, they may not be successful or wealthy but they may live with a lesser chance of these diseases induced by a stressful lifestyle. The good news is that stress reduction can help in every single disease and ailment. So learn to deep breath, to relax, self hypnosis etc.. Really, life is not worth stressing about all the time. I learned that the hard way.

Alcohol only temporarily reduces stress if you have lots of stress you just get addicted and drink all the time which isn't healthy.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/09/14/why-do-heavy-drinkers-outlive-nondrinkers.aspx