After Uber arrives, heavy drinking increases (Excerpt)
Ride-hailing apps have allowed more binging-and increased demand for bartenders
Source: https://www.economist.com/
Nov 19th 2019
UBER HAS hit a few potholes on its ten-year journey. In recent years the ride-hailing company has been beset by —ual-harassment scandals, lawsuits over drivers’ contracts and battles with regulators. Its share price has fallen by a third since it went public in May. After all these bumps, it is easy to forget just how much urbanites around the world have come to rely on Uber, which is now on the streets of more than 700 cities.
Among other things, Uber has made it far easier for party-goers to get home safely. One study published in 2017 found that after Uber’s arrival in Portland, Oregon, alcohol-related car crashes declined by 62%. But at the same time, the spread of ride-hailing apps may have tempted people to drink to excess, knowing that they won’t be at the wheel.
A new study by three economists-Jacob Burgdorf and Conor Lennon of the University of Louisville, and Keith Teltser of Georgia State University-finds that the widespread availability of ride-sharing apps has indeed made it easier for the late-night crowd to binge.
https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/11/19/after-uber-arrives-heavy-drinking-increase