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THE NATION’S much- maligned love affair with alcohol may not be all bad it seems after a study found people who avoided liquor altogether suffered higher rates of depression and were more likely to lack certain social skills.

The research, carried out by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and published in the latest issue of the Addiction Journal, analysed the drinking habits and mental health of more than 38,000 individuals. It found that those who reported drinking no alcohol over a two-week period were more likely to report symptoms of depression than moderate drinkers. Those who labelled themselves as “abstainers” had the highest risk of depression, even higher than those who drank too much alcohol.