YOU BET: “Alcohol, cigarettes, chocolates and sweets - The secrets of a long life?”

However, some of the examples given of people who quit those habits at a very advanced age and then suddenly died doesn't mean that those habits were protecting them from dying, mind you. They were of a very advanced age and —excuse the bluntness— their time had come anyway,. But the article's underlying thesis is still valid: that those things are not as bad as told (plus drinking might even be doing you good, if at moderate dosage).

In any case, booze, cigs and chocolate perhaps don't increase your life, but they certainly make it more pleasant. Even if they shortened it a bit… what's the point of living longer if you can't have fun?