Thousands of red wine drinkers will be devastated.

They were happy in the belief that a glass or two of their favourite tipple was doing them good.

My friend Barbara claimed red wine was now an integral part of her five a day fruit and veg consumption, on the basis that one glass equalled a bunch of grapes.

If she wanted to feel really healthy, she would have two glasses.

But now scientists say those claims, that said an ingredient in red wine can help imbibers live longer, are unfounded.

Research at the US Johns Hopkins University shows that the anti-oxidant resveratrol has no significant effect on lifespan, heart disease or cancer.

Professor Richard Semba said: “The story of resveratrol turns out to be another case where you get a lot of hype about health benefits that doesn’t stand the test of time.”

The new research involved 782 Italians aged 65 and over from the Chianti region, where they will undoubtedly continue having a glass of red regardless of medical benefits.

Reader Allen Jenkinson is one of those who are disappointed.

“If that is the case, who’s going to pay for all those hundreds of bottles that I drank believing there was a health benefit? Surely someone has to answer for a case - actually quite a few cases, if the truth be known - of me being fed misleading information.”

Allen is, in his own way, a research scientist who is part of the Huddersfield Formation Drinking Team that will shortly visit Dublin on its annual summer trip to test the health benefits of Guinness.

The team is once again looking for sponsorship, he says.

Perhaps, with the removal of red wine from the healthy category, he could apply to the NHS to help fund the team’s planned thorough and in-depth study of the black stuff?