But why would abstaining from alcohol lead to a shorter life? Even after controlling for nearly all imaginable variables - socioeconomic status, level of physical activity, number of close friends, quality of social support and so on - the researchers (a six-member team led by psychologist Charles Holahan of the University of Texas at Austin) found that over a 20-year period, mortality rates were highest for those who were not current drinkers, regardless of whether they used to be alcoholics, second highest for heavy drinkers and lowest for moderate drinkers.
但为什么滴酒不沾的人反倒活得短呢？即便抛开所有想得到的可变因素，如社会经济地位、身体状况、好友数目、社会支持等，研究人员（由德克萨斯大学心理学家查理斯-霍拉汉带领的六人研究小组）历时20年的研究发现，不管他们以前有没有饮过酒，滴酒不沾的人死亡率是最高的，第二高时酗酒者，死亡率最低的是适度饮酒者。

One important reason is that alcohol lubricates so many social interactions, and social interactions are vital for maintaining mental and physical health.
一个重要的原因是，饮酒有助于人际交往，而人际交往时保持身心健康的重要因素。