A daily tipple can keep you happy, according to a new study.

Australian Unity Wellbeing Index has confirmed that those who drink one or two glasses of alcohol every day are the happiest people.

It found that happiness levels declined for older drinkers who had more than three drinks in a session, but not for those aged 18 to 26.

It also showed that those who exercise up to three times a week also were relatively happy but those who never drank were among the most miserable, recording "below normal wellbeing".

The study, conducted by Deakin University's Australian Centre on the Quality of Life, found the benefits of moderate drinking were most evident for divorcees, sole parents, those engaged in full-time family care and people in the stressful middle years, from 36 to 65.

"The reason� could possibly be linked to coping. Middle age can be a stressful period of life when people are managing families, work and mortgages. Perhaps the consumption of alcohol during this time is an important coping strategy," the Courier Mail quoted the researchers, as saying.

According to Centre director Professor Bob Cummins, drinkers might also be happier because they were more social.

"This probably indicates the role of alcohol to bring people together to socialise and share their lives a bit. It can be a nice bonding thing with their partner at the end of the day to have a glass of wine over an evening meal," he said.

ANI