World’s oldest man alive turns 113, cites drinking alcohol everyday as secret to long life

Juan Vicente Pérez of Venezuela, declared the world’s oldest person living (male) by Guinness World Records, turned 113 on Friday. Guinness recognised Juan as the oldest living person in February following the demise of Saturnino de la Fuente Garcia of Spain, who lived to be 112 years and 341 days, on January 18.

Born on May 27, 1909, in the Tachira state of Venezuela, he was the ninth child of 10 children born to his parents.

The centenarian has 41 grandchildren of his own, another 18 great-grandchildren and a dozen great-great-grandchildren, according to a press release by Guinness World Records.
Juan celebrated the remarkable achievement of celebrating his 113th birthday on Friday, May 27 and was in the company of his family and friends.

When he was just five, Juan started working sugarcane fields and harvested coffee with his father and joined a local school at the age of 10. However, he couldn’t pursue education for long after his teacher became ill but learned the basics of reading and writing.
The supercentenarian became a sheriff in a suburb in 1948 and was in charge of resolving land and family disputes for a decade while still juggling farming with his career.

Juan is now 113 and still going strong. Other than a slightly elevated blood pressure and cardiac issues that come naturally with his age, Juan’s physician says he’s in the pink of his health and doesn’t take medication.
What is the secret to this longevity, you ask? “Work hard, rest on holidays, go to bed early, drink a glass of aguardiente every day, love God, and always carry him in your heart,” says Juan.