Enjoying a small bit of alcohol daily could actually help boost your life-span to a healthy 90 years of age, researchers claim.

The secret to living long into ripe old age has been heavily debated throughout human history. Still, advancement in scientific research continues to throw up informed answers to this age-old question.

Eating a healthier diet, regularly practicing yoga in a peaceful park, visiting exotic hot springs to cleanse your body…many of us have tried all sorts of things to ensure longevity.

We've also been advised to limit alcohol intake if we wish to live longer, but a recent study has discovered that the key to reaching past the age of 90 could all come down to drinking a small glass of alcohol every day.

This study, spearheaded by a team of scientists at Maastricht University Medical Centre in the Netherlands, discovered that people who indulge in a daily drink are 40 percent more likely to reach their 90th birthday than those who abstain entirely.

Cheers to that!

But before you all get carried away, it's important to note that the benefits of booze are only restricted to those who stick to one daily drink, as binge-drinkers are prone to die earlier.

In the study, researchers tracked around 5,000 men and women born between 1916 and 1917 using data from the Netherlands Cohort Study.

Participants were quizzed on their drinking habits in 1986 when they were in their 60s before researchers followed them up until the age of 90.

The results, published in the journal Age and Ageing, showed 34 percent of the women and 16% of the men survived to that age.

However, those who drank between 5 to 10 grams of booze daily - the equivalent of a half-pint of beer, a small glass of wine, or a standard shot of liquor had the 'highest probability of reaching 90.'

Conversely, larger alcohol intake led to premature death.

In his report on the findings, Dr. van den Brandt said:

"We found alcohol intake was positively associated with the probability of reaching 90 years of age in both men and women. The wine was associated with women reaching 90 but not with men. Instead, intake of gin, brandy, and whiskey increased their longevity."

Researchers also warned older people that alcohol could potentially interfere with prescription medications.

They also noted the study shouldn't be seen as an endorsement of imbibing alcohol.

Dr. van den Brandt added:

"This should not be used by anyone who does not currently drink alcohol as motivation to start drinking."

So, if you don't drink alcohol, this study isn't a reason to start. But if you do, just keep doing it in moderation.