Going Out with Friends More Often for a Beer at a Local Pub Could Prove Highly Beneficial to One's Health, a New Study Finds

Scientists encourage people to visit their local pub more often. One beer may lead to improved social interaction, they say.

Consuming moderate amounts of alcohol in a familiar environment, like a favorite local pub, for example, surrounded by friends carries an array of health benefits, per new survey’s findings. A team of Oxford researchers claimed people who are visiting local pubs with friends more frequently than others increase their wellbeing levels through social interaction. Consuming moderate amounts of alcohol facilitates an individual’s interaction with the members of his group or with strangers, said the scientists.

Study’s Sources

The study pulled data on the subjects’ behavioral patterns while engaging in conversations after consuming moderate amounts of alcohol. Furthermore, the University of Oxford, UK, team of researchers also gathered information from a questionnaire-based study of pub clientele conducted by CAMRA, short for Campaign for Real Ale.

Study Highlights

Observing the subjects’ behavior while spending their time with their friends, family, work colleagues, or acquaintances at a local pub, the scientists were able to conclude that individuals who oftentimes take part in these meetings feel more socially engaged, and are more likely to trust other members of their community, as well.

At the same time, people who do not engage in similar behavior, or dedicate less time to going out with friends for a beer had significantly smaller social networks and consequently feel less engaged in local communities.

For the study, the researchers looked at the subjects’ behavior exhibited in two groups. One was significantly smaller than the other. The individuals of the first group spent their time at a local pub, while the larger group was drinking in city-centre bars. The scientists concluded that consuming alcohol in smaller, local pubs allowed the group’s representatives to engage in whole-group conversation. At the same time, however, subjects part of larger groups oftentimes participated much less in group conversations.

One of the study’s authors, Professor Robin Dunbar at University of Oxford believes alcohol acts like an endorphin trigger that promotes social bonding. Nevertheless, the study also warns about the danger abusing alcohol comes with. Hence, the researchers encourage individuals to engage in responsible drinking in a supervised environment while spending their time with friends at the local pub.

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