While, several couples enjoy having a good bottle of wine with dinner, it has now been found by researchers that this habit can actually promote happiness in marriage. Elderly couples, who have been married over a long period of time, are likely to be happier if they have similar drinking inclinations, as compared to those couples in which only one partner enjoys drinking, according to a new study published in The Journals of Gerontology.

The study involved questioning 2,767 older couples over a period of 10 years. The couples in the study were a minimum of 50 years old and had been married over an average period of 33 years. Furthermore, out of all the participants, it was the first marriage for two-thirds of them. The lead author of the study explained that the amount of alcohol consumed by the couples is not important.

Significant thing is whether both the partners consume alcohol or not. On the whole, the study suggested that the couples enjoyed a better quality marriage if either both the partners consumed alcohol or both of them desisted it. The research also revealed certain other facts over the drinking habits.

It was found that noteworthy drinking problems are faced by approximately 20% of males and 6% of females. It seems that the outcome of the study can be summed up by saying that couples, who drink with each other, actually stay happier. The study also suggested that specifically those women were least content with their marriage, where their husbands drank but they did not. It was better for both the partners to be tee-totals than one drinking and one not.

“The present findings stress the importance of considering the drinking status rather than the amount of alcohol consumed of both members of the couple when attempting to understand drinking and marital quality among older couples”, said the researchers.

A report published in ABC13 revealed, "Sharing a good bottle of wine over dinner is an event many of us cherish in life, but now there is evidence it may actually help your marriage. A new study found that older married couples who have similar drinking habits tend to be happier than couples where only one partner drinks."

The study, which is published in The Journals of Gerontology, questioned more than 2,700 couples over 10 years. The couples, who were at least 50 years old, were married an average of 33 years, and for about two-thirds of the participants, it was their first marriage.

The lead author said what is significant is not how much the couples drink, but whether they both drink or not. Overall, couples had better marriages if both partners drank alcohol or if both partners abstained.

A report published in WLTZ revealed, "A new study finds older couples who drink alcohol together or are both teetotalers are happier than couples in which only one partner drinks."

Researchers in the study, published in the journals of gerontology, questioned more than 2,700 couples over 10 years. The couples were married an average of 33 years and for about two-thirds of them, it was their first marriage.

The lead author said what's significant is not how much the couples drink, but whether they both drink or not. The study also had some sobering results: about 20% of men and six percent of women had significant drinking problems.