Alcohol has always been viewed as a major culprit when it comes to expanding waistlines because of its high sugar content.
But according to the latest research enjoying a glass of red at the end of a stressful day could not only form part of a healthy lifestyle, it could even assist in weight loss.
Although heavy drinkers will inevitably gain weight, those who drink in moderation, could lose weight.
A spokesman for the research team at the Navarro University in Spain said: 'Light-to-moderate alcohol intake, especially of wine, may be more likely to protect against, rather than promote, weight gain.
'As positive associations between alcohol and weight gain were mainly found in studies with data on higher levels of drinking, it is possible an effect on weight gain or abdominal adiposity may only be experienced by heavy drinkers.'