Sydney: Women over 70 who have one or two alcoholic drinks a day live longer than teetotallers or the people who completely avoid alcohol beverages, according to an Australian survey reported on Thursday.

"Non-drinkers and women who rarely drink had a significantly higher risk of dying earlier than women who consumed a low intake of alcohol," said Prof Julie Byles of the University of Newcastle.

The survey of more than 12,400 older women asked about their drinking habits showed that those who averaged the National Health and Medical Research Council recommended levels of no more than two standard drinks a day lived longer than those who did not consume alcohol.

But she warned that the study was not designed to provide evidence suggesting that teetotallers should start drinking in older age. IANS