15 Hard-Living Centenarians That Suggest Drinking and Smoking Might Be Incredibly Good for You

Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, 114 and still going at the time of writing, credits his long life to his devout Catholicism and a daily glass of aguardiente, a strong spirit that would make most people retch if drunk straight. 

Henry Allingham, who died in 2009 aged 113, credited his longevity to “cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women — and a good sense of humor.” Even the most puritan of people would admit, that’s cool as shit.

Jeanne Calment died in 1997 aged 122. She was a big fan of spicy foods right until the end, ate two pounds of chocolate per week and followed her lunch every day with a cigarette and a glass of port.

Until her death in 2023 at the age of 118, Frenchwoman Lucile Randon was the oldest person alive. She drank wine every day. She was 40 when the most expensive wine ever sold, a $558,000 1945 Romanée-Conti, was bottled.

Shigechiyo Izumi died in 1986, claiming — unverified — to be 120. He started smoking at 70. Medically advised to quit the spirit shōchū, he said, “Without shōchū there would be no pleasure in life. I’d rather die than give up drinking.”

Italian Emma Morano, who lived to the age of 117, enjoyed homemade grappa, an Italian grape brandy. It’s quite similar to aguardiente, in fact — drink local sub-varieties of brandy and live forever.

American Walter Breuning, who died in 2011 aged 114, was a lifelong cigar smoker. He quit for a while at the age of 103, but took it up again enthusiastically when he was given some cigars for his 108th birthday.

Jerelean Talley, who died aged 116 in 2015, attributed part of her longevity to playing slot machines in casinos, something she absolutely adored doing. She also bowled regularly — scoring over 200 — until 104 when her arms got too weak.

Hermann Dörnemann, who died in 2005 at the age of 111, attributed his longevity to foregoing sports and drinking beer every day. He also drank the water he boiled his potatoes in, “for the vitamins.” He almost certainly smelled appalling.

German Gertrud Henze died in 2014 aged 112. She claimed her long life was due to enjoying a cigarette and a glass of wine here and there, and never getting married. 

Diplomat Juliana Koo died at 111 in 2017, over 75 years after her first husband was executed. She claimed her long life was due to never doing sports and eating shitloads of beef, pork belly and foie gras. Sounds alright!

Margaret Ann Neve died at 110 in 1903, only the second verified supercentenarian. She enjoyed a glass and a half of sherry every lunchtime, then a whiskey mixed with water in the evening before going to bed/passing out.

Jiroemon Kimura, who died in 2013 at 116, enjoyed watching sumo wrestling and drinking. Well, he drank — he didn’t necessarily enjoy it. He was described as “a disciplined, serious man,” who would sit up straight and drink in total silence. 

Emma Didlake, who died in 2015 at 111 as the oldest living American World War II veteran, was a fan of soaking raisins in vodka overnight, a truly inventive way of getting booze into your system.

Stanisław Kowalski, who died in 2022 at 111, was the world’s oldest athlete, setting records in shot put and sprinting when over 105. He attributed his long life to never going to the doctor and doing whatever he wanted.