The coronavirus pandemic is causing serious problems around the world. Many companies and their employees are hit hard. COVID-19 and unemployment are closely connected. COVID 19 especially threatens restaurants and bars. These have been places where people typically gather in groups. However, social distancing and sheltering in place threaten to destroy such businesses. Trying to …
It’s a simple fact. In general, alcohol drinkers make more money. As one newspaper reported, “Who said boozers are losers? Just take a look at their paychecks.” Women in the US who drink earn 14% more than nondrinkers. Men who drink make 10% more than abstainers. according to an economic analysis in the Journal of …
Café culture has spread from Europe to countries around the world. With its emphasis on eating and socializing, it appeals to a broad segment of people. Café culture contributes to a diverse and vital downtown area that attracts visitors and enhances the economy. In short, café culture benefits everyone. The city of Chapel Hill in …
Are alcohol ads and underage drinking related? Can reducing or eliminating alcohol ads on TV reduce underage drinking? Simple solutions to complex issues are always temping. Unfortunately, news reports can mislead if they don’t accurately summarize research findings. Misleading Reporting In reporting the findings of a study1 on the subject, the New York Times failed to …
Does price influence decisions about drinking alcohol or using marijuana? That is, do differing prices or availability of alcohol influence the use of marijuana and other drugs? Substitution Economists note that some products can, at least to some degree, be used to replace one another. In such cases, as the price of one goes up, …
“Sin taxes on alcohol beverages.” Perhaps that phrase is a justification for raising them. The news is full of debates about increasing so-called sin taxes. But what’s sinful about alcoholic beverages? Absolutely nothing. Saint Thomas Aquinas said that no substance is sinful, “but only the misuse of it that makes it so.” Drinking in Moderation …
Competition among producers of goods and services benefits consumers. It increases consumer choice, reduces prices, and improves customer service. Therefore, alcohol monopolies are anti-consumer. Monopolies Harm Consumers It was abolishing the old telephone monopoly that made possible the dramatic expansion of communication products that we take for granted today. And it was deregulation of the …
Does alcohol cost society? The answer is debatable. Alcohol may cost society or it may economically benefit society. And, of course, the costs and profits may cancel each other. However, it’s essential to distinguish between drinking in moderation and abusing alcohol. Failure to do so leads to radically different estimates. That’s because drinking in moderation …
Taxes and Prohibition of alcohol were related. But ironically, so were taxes and Repeal. Here’s what happened. I. Background There were two major sources of federal government revenue for much of U.S. history. One was customs duties on imported products. The other was taxes on alcoholic beverages. About 30 to 40% of the government’s revenue came …
South of the Border is a large tourist attraction located in Dillon County, South Carolina. It’s very close to the southern border of North Carolina. Hence, its name. But how did prohibition lead to its existence? I. The Story of South of the Border Here’s the story. Alan Schafer was a beer distributor in the …
