Hangovers Cost the Economy $224 Billion, Says CDC

http://reason.com/blog/2013/07/05/hangovers-cost-the-economy-224-billion-s?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reason%2FHitandRun+%28Reason+Online+-+Hit+%26+Run+Blog%29

by stevekinney • 13 years ago

7 7 13 years ago

reason.com

ciderpunx• 13 years ago

OK, but how much does the economy gain by people discussing work at the pub the evening before?

stevekinney2• 13 years ago

That's a good point. There was a study back in 2006[1] that showed that people who drank made more money (about 10-14%) at their jobs than non-drinkers and social drinkers. So, it can me argued that drinking may actually help the economy as a whole, even if hangovers themselves cause a short term loss in productivity.

[1] http://reason.org/news/show/127594.html

jiggy2011• 13 years ago

Hmm, that seems to say that social drinkers (people who go to bars once per month) make more.

So it's not really the drinking aspect, it's specifically the socializing aspect. You could go to bars and drink only non alcoholic drinks and probably have the same effect, assuming you can still be sociable without alcohol.

ukoto• 13 years ago

What an embarrassing waste of taxpayer money. Perhaps they should study how much pointless studies cost the economy.

Nursie• 13 years ago

Sooo... that sounds like a lot of money. I guess we've got our top guys working on hangover cures and alternative drugs that give people the buzz they like without the negatives then?

Klaughton• 13 years ago

What about incremental externalities (late night food delivery, contraceptives, tobacco sales, transportation, etc...) ... excessive partying creates jobs, work hard play hard!

Hangovers Cost the Economy $224 Billion, Says CDC

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