Is it because we need a reason to keep sipping that glass of wine? A recent study in Norway found that moderate drinking improves cognitive functions, contrary to the widely held view that alcohol, whatever the amount imbibed, might be destructive to one’s health. It cites women as the biggest beneficiaries of normal drinking, after results showed that those who consumed wine moderately had higher cognitive abilities than those who did not. “Among women, there was a lower risk of a poor testing score for those who consumed wine at least four or more times over two weeks in comparison with those who drank less during the period,” the study said. The study, expected to elicit varied reactions from doctors and spiritual leaders, was conducted in northern Norway and involved 5,033 men and women.