Sir Rod Stewart, 81, reveals wife Penny has ordered him to cut back on drinking as he shares his secrets to good health ahead of farewell tour

Sir Rod Stewart has revealed his wife Penny Lancaster has ordered him to curb his drinking but he loves having wine with his evening meal. The singer, 81, is doing his last arena tour, The Final Encore, next year to celebrate his six-decade career and his wife of 19 years, Penny, 55, has told him he 'must cut back' on alcohol. Ahead of his final time on the road, Rod revealed how he is ensuring he is in good health – but can't resist having a drink or two. He told The Sun: 'I wish I could curb my drinking, but I love wine with an evening meal. I’ve got a great chef and I can’t drink water with a good meal.'Penny says, "You must cut back, darling’" I only have a couple of glasses. But then, sometimes, I’ll get on the apple martinis and I can really knock those back.'Rod said he tells his children he can handle a lot of alcohol because of his decades in showbusiness, but has instilled in his children the importance of knowing when to stop so they can fulfil their responsibilities the following day. Sir Rod Stewart has revealed his wife Penny Lancaster has ordered him to curb his drinking but he loves having wine with his evening meal Ahead of his final time on the road, Rod revealed how he is ensuring he is in good health but can't resist having a drink or two despite Penny's advice (pictured last month)Rod said when he was on stage in his twenties and thirties, he wouldn't warm up and singers would 'drink whatever you want, do the drugs and get on the stage'. But now he goes on sober and will have a rum and Coke after the third song following an hour's workout and warming up his voice. The singer said his strict exercise regime is due to training 'like an athlete'. He cycles three times a week and swims regularly after Frank Sinatra told Rod to swim underwater to practise holding his breath, which would help when singing. He wears white gloves when out as he is 'totally paranoid' about catching colds and the flu.While he admitted he 'can't jump around like I used to', Rod said he is 'vocally better now than I've ever been'. During the interview, he also addressed when he needed oxygen on stage in Utah while performing 4,300ft above sea level. He said: 'I had a bout of illness, which was bad luck. I’d just had bronchitis at the same time as I was playing above altitude. I was in a right state. While he admitted he 'can't jump around like I used to', Rod said he is 'vocally better now than I've ever been', thanks to his strict training and warm up routine'The geezer who worked for me didn’t tell me. I said, "Are we above sea level?". He said, "Nah, of course we’re not". 'So, I ran out and did three fast songs. All of a sudden, I was like, I couldn’t breathe. I got through the show, but it was painful.'Rod said if he had known he was performing above altitude, he wouldn't have performed three energetic songs in a row. The Maggie May hitmaker was forced to cut short his One Last Time farewell tour in the US earlier this year because of the operation.In an update in September, he said: 'After much deliberation and sadness I have to announce that next year will be my last tour forever ever. This will be the last rock and roll tour.'So I want to thank you for everything you have given me and hopefully I've given you something in return.'The 21-date European tour will kick off in Dublin on April 23 next year and finish in Hannover, Germany, on July 24. UK concerts include Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and London.In a further statement he added: 'My dear friends, the time has come to say farewell to life on the road. After more than six decades, The Final Encore will most definitely be my last.'I've been singing the music I love since I was 19 years old, and I've had the privilege of taking it around the world to all of you.'It has given me a life beyond anything I could ever have imagined, and I hope I've given you some fond memories in return.'So, may I take this opportunity to thank you for making this extraordinary life possible. I hope you'll join me so I can thank you the best way I know how… with the music and one hell of a show. See you there.'Rod has been on the road with his One Last Time tour since March, but pulled out of a number of concerts in June after suffering from an acute upper respiratory infection, laryngitis and vocal strain.He then cancelled more shows after undergoing the heart surgery last month to allow himself time to recover and being told to stay off the stage for at least four weeks.