Mildred Bowers: 102-year-old woman credits beer for her long life

She drinks a cold one every day at 4 pm, per 'doctor's orders'

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The secret to a century-long life – at least to one South Carolina centenarian – is a tall pint of cold beer, every single day.

Mildred "Millie" Bowers will celebrate her 103rd birthday on 31 August. One of nine girls in her family, Ms Bowers survived the Great Depression and outlived two husbands. And she credits beer as one of the secrets to her longevity.

“It’s all in the genes,” Ms Bowers told a local NBC affiliate. “I feel OK because I’m in good health.”

She added: “Have a beer, doctor’s orders.”

Ms Bowers got the go-ahead from her doctor to drink beer on a regular basis after sharing her love for the drink with nurses at her assisted living facility. She said the doctor immediately approved – and now she has her pint every day at 4 pm.

Whether or not other seniors should adopt the practice of having a daily beer, she said: “Yes, if they like it.”

“Look, there are people who don’t like coffee and people who don’t like tea,” Ms Bowers added, “but I want everyone to drink what they like.”

American Life Expectancy Over Time | FindTheData

Ms Bowers is certainly not the first centenarian to chalk the secret to seemingly eternal – or at least quite long – life to regular, moderate alcohol consumption.

Agnes Fenton, 111, said she made it to the age of 105 by drinking three Miller High Life beers and a shot of Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch every day, beginning when she was 50.

But Ms Fenton, who celebrated her birthday on 1 August, credits her long life to a power much higher than beer.

“When I was 100 years old, I went to the mirror to thank God that I was still here,” the New Jersey woman said. “And I thank him every morning.”