News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A French hospital will become the first in the world to open up a wine bar in a bid to cheer up terminally ill patients in their final dying days.

Top doctors at Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital believe a few drinks with friends and family could dramatically enhance their quality of life.

The bar will be based in the palliative care centre, where staff will be trained in how best to deal with partying patients.

Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital Center said in statement the terminally ill will be allowed to enjoy a 'medically supervised' glass or two with their families.

The centre's head, Dr. Virginie Guastella, said terminally ill patients have the right to enjoy themselves too.

He said: "Why should we refuse the charms of the soil to those at the end of their lives? Nothing justifies such an prohibition.

"Medically supervised tastings will help brighten what is often a difficult daily life."

(Image: Getty)

Dr. Guastella told The Local: "A situation can be palliative for several weeks or even several months and it’s because life is so precious and real until the end that we decided to cultivate all that is fine and good.

“It’s a way of rethinking the care of others, taking into account their feelings and emotions that make them a human being.”

Scientists have long claimed wine can benefit your health in moderate doses but this is the first instance of a hospital giving alcohol to terminally ill patients in order to boost their mood.

But wine also contains resveratrol, which is said to help prevent heart attacks, combat obesity, lower cholesterol, prevent blood clots and even help combat cancer.

Researchers at the University of Leicester are looking at whether ­resveratrol, on its own, not in red wine, could one day be developed into a cancer-preventing drug.

They have found a daily amount of resveratrol ­equivalent to two glasses of wine can halve the rate of bowel tumours in mice.

Scientists want to start clinical trials and find out how the compound might work in human beings.