Could de Blasio’s Election Lead to New Era of Drunkenness?
“Hey de Blasio, gemme an Uber”
States with more progressive elected representatives consume more beer and liquor, according to a new study published in the Journal of Wine Economics and reported by the Daily News. Economists at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University looked at almost 60 years of data from all 50 states before determining “that liberal ideology has a statistically significant positive association with the consumption of alcohol in the United States even after controlling for economic, demographic, and geographic differences across states.” So, after 20 years of Republicans and Independent former Republicans, is a new and glorious era of besottedness in store for New York?
Well, I guess it depends on why liberals tend toward the drink. The study posited at least two theories, the News reports: that liberals are open to new experiences (uh, sure, that explains it) “or might feel more confident in a government safety net—which presumably would help them pick up the pieces if they made a mess of their lives on booze benders.” Yes, exactly! Yesterday, as I walked from one bar on the south end of town to another on the north, I kept thinking to myself, do I really need another drink? But the answer kept coming up yes, because why not? If I slip on the ice-snow and break my leg, Obama will give me a new one. If my liver fails, Obama will give me a new one. If I shatter the lives of my loved ones and destroy my family, Obama will give me a new one! I can’t lose in this socialist welfare utopia!
Follow Henry Stewart on Twitter @henrycstewart
