An individual who gives up drinking can look forward to health benefits. They may lose weight. They may sleep better. Yet from an economist’s point of view, teetotalism is an incoherent and damaging ideology—for three big reasons.
For instance, non-drinkers who go to social events are free-riding on the joviality of hard-working drinkers. What would happen to the social fabric if everyone stopped imbibing?
Or consider the economics of the restaurant industry. Alcohol offers higher profit margins than food as it requires less labour to prepare...estimates that booze accounts for all the profits of the restaurant industry. Drinkers subsidise non-drinkers. Those who order sparkling water can feel sanctimonious in the short run. But if no one orders a bottle of Bordeaux, many restaurants will go under. In San Francisco, Sobriety Central, they are closing by the dozen.
Second, abstinence makes people lonelier. For centuries alcohol has served a social function. It helps people relax. Taking a drink also signals to others that you are happy
No other drug has played such a consistent role in human innovation. Being intoxicated opens up the possibility of accidents of insight.
lol lmao even
Call me old-fashioned
YOU GenZ, INCEL, MOTHERFUCKER ABSTAINER TAKE THE FUCKING GLASS ALREADY
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