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The next time you catch yourself throwing your partner shade for having a nightcap, consider pouring a glass for yourself instead — after all, it may just be the key to a healthier relationship.

According to a study published in the Journals of Gerontology B: Psychology Sciences, couples who are over the age of 50 reported better unions when both partners drank or both abstained from alcohol. In fact, disparity was demonstrated to arise more when one partner indulged while the other obtained — particularly if the boozer was the woman (in heterosexual partnerships).

The researchers surveyed nearly 3,000 couples that had been married, on average, for 33 years.

The couples were polled on their drinking habits — what a typical number of drinks per week looked like, versus how many drinks they might knock back if going on a bender — and then asked to report on their feelings toward their partner: did they find them irritating? Demanding? Overly critical?

Overall, the study demonstrated that couples who drank/abstained on the same occasions reported higher levels of happiness and ability to maintain a healthy relationship than those whose drinking patterns didn’t match up.

Interestingly, with problems-drinkers aside (those are a “whole different kettle of fish,” Dr. Fred Blow of the University of Michigan told Reuters Health), the amount of alcohol consumed affected the results less than whether or not both partners were drinking at all. Therefore, couples need not worry about keeping pace — as long as both partners are knocking back at least one together, that’s apparently enough to raise levels of satisfaction.

“We’re not suggesting that people should drink more or change the way they drink,” study author Kira Birditt of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor told Reuters Health.

“We’re not sure why this is happening but it could be that couples that do more leisure time activities together have better marital quality.”

So next time you’re feeling tense and want to make things right, drink up, offer your SO a glass, and never, ever, let anybody tell you you don’t care.

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The next time you catch yourself throwing your partner shade for having a nightcap, consider pouring a glass for yourself instead — after all, it may just be the key to a healthier relationship.

According to a study published in the Journals of Gerontology B: Psychology Sciences, couples who are over the age of 50 reported better unions when both partners drank or both abstained from alcohol. In fact, disparity was demonstrated to arise more when one partner indulged while the other obtained — particularly if the boozer was the woman (in heterosexual partnerships).

The researchers surveyed nearly 3,000 couples that had been married, on average, for 33 years.

The couples were polled on their drinking habits — what a typical number of drinks per week looked like, versus how many drinks they might knock back if going on a bender — and then asked to report on their feelings toward their partner: did they find them irritating? Demanding? Overly critical?

Overall, the study demonstrated that couples who drank/abstained on the same occasions reported higher levels of happiness and ability to maintain a healthy relationship than those whose drinking patterns didn’t match up.

Interestingly, with problems-drinkers aside (those are a “whole different kettle of fish,” Dr. Fred Blow of the University of Michigan told Reuters Health), the amount of alcohol consumed affected the results less than whether or not both partners were drinking at all. Therefore, couples need not worry about keeping pace — as long as both partners are knocking back at least one together, that’s apparently enough to raise levels of satisfaction.

“We’re not suggesting that people should drink more or change the way they drink,” study author Kira Birditt of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor told Reuters Health.

“We’re not sure why this is happening but it could be that couples that do more leisure time activities together have better marital quality.”

So next time you’re feeling tense and want to make things right, drink up, offer your SO a glass, and never, ever, let anybody tell you you don’t care.

Want A Happy Marriage? Then Consider Getting Drunk Together, Says Science

The next time you catch yourself throwing your partner shade for having a nightcap, consider pouring a glass for yourself instead — after all, it may just be the key to a healthier relationship.

According to a study published in the Journals of Gerontology B: Psychology Sciences, couples who are over the age of 50 reported better unions when both partners drank or both abstained from alcohol. In fact, disparity was demonstrated to arise more when one partner indulged while the other obtained — particularly if the boozer was the woman (in heterosexual partnerships).

The researchers surveyed nearly 3,000 couples that had been married, on average, for 33 years.

The couples were polled on their drinking habits — what a typical number of drinks per week looked like, versus how many drinks they might knock back if going on a bender — and then asked to report on their feelings toward their partner: did they find them irritating? Demanding? Overly critical?

Overall, the study demonstrated that couples who drank/abstained on the same occasions reported higher levels of happiness and ability to maintain a healthy relationship than those whose drinking patterns didn’t match up.

Interestingly, with problems-drinkers aside (those are a “whole different kettle of fish,” Dr. Fred Blow of the University of Michigan told Reuters Health), the amount of alcohol consumed affected the results less than whether or not both partners were drinking at all. Therefore, couples need not worry about keeping pace — as long as both partners are knocking back at least one together, that’s apparently enough to raise levels of satisfaction.

“We’re not suggesting that people should drink more or change the way they drink,” study author Kira Birditt of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor told Reuters Health.

“We’re not sure why this is happening but it could be that couples that do more leisure time activities together have better marital quality.”

So next time you’re feeling tense and want to make things right, drink up, offer your SO a glass, and never, ever, let anybody tell you you don’t care.