Smarter people drink alcohol more often: studies

Drunk people may do some stupid things, but two studies are showing people who drink more are actually smarter.

This is according to data from the National Child Development Study in the U.K. and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in the U.S. Researchers measured kids intelligence before they turned 16 and put them in one of five categories ranging from very bright to very dull.

The Americans were revisited seven years later and the Brits were followed in their 20s, 30 and 40s, reports Discovery News.

[ Related: World's strongest beer more potent than whiskey ]

In both studies the smarter children ended up drinking more alcohol later in life. They ended up drinking more often and in greater quantities when compared to the duller kids.

Researches also controlled for such things as marital status, parents' education, earnings, social class and other factors that may affect drinking. Regardless of these factors, the smarter kids drank more.

[ More Daily Buzz: Sidewalk-driving woman ordered to wear 'idiot' sign as punishment ]

Psychology Today attempts to say why this is the case by explaining that drinking is a relatively novel invention and intelligent individuals are more likely to engage in evolutionary novel behaviour.

This isn't the first study that gives drinkers a reason to smile. A few months ago sociologist Carolyn Hsu found those who binge drink more are happier. She discovered students don't drink because they are upset or as a way to relieve anxiety, but they drink to attain a social status. And students in high-status groups are more socially satisfied.

(Reuters image)

Want the latest buzz before it goes viral?
Follow @ydailybuzz on Twitter!