Decline Watch: Can Americans afford to drive drunk anymore?

Posted By Joshua Keating Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - 10:18 AM Share

Drunk driving incidents have fallen 30 percent over the last five years. How can this possibly be a sign of decline, you ask? The AP's Mike Stobbe, via Gawker, explains:

The decline may be due to the down economy: Other research suggests people are still drinking as heavily as in years past, so some may just be finding cheaper ways of imbibing than by going to bars, night clubs and restaurants.

"One possibility is that people are drinking at home more and driving less after drinking," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Decline-o-meter: Giving this a neutral score both for the uncertainty of the premise and the fact that, despite the reasons, this obviously isn't a bad thing. 

Something doesn't quite add up though. If Americans are getting their drink on at home to save money, shouldn't there be an increase in the sales of inexpensive beers? As we noted last week, beer sales are down except in hoity-toity categories like microbrews and imports. 

In any case, don't drink and drive whatever your income. America's roads are dangerous enough already.  

EXPLORE:THUMBS
 

OBLONSKY

3:16 PM ET

October 5, 2011

enough...

These Decline Watch posts are not fun to read. And I don't mean "not fun" in the sense that I don't like reading about America's putative decline, but I mean "not fun" in the sense that this blog has way too many by Decline Watch postings.

Trying to find a causal link between beer prices and America's decline is stretching it, and reeks of 'I just had to make a post to fill my quota.' I think people much more enjoy the odd in-depth post about a low-coverage foreign issue than some random, tangential posts about America's decline.

 

SQUEEDLE

5:32 PM ET

October 6, 2011

What are you talking about,

What are you talking about, they're hilarious! Is it not clear he doesn't believe there's a decline, and is making fun of people who do?

 

HURRICANEWARNING

9:07 PM ET

October 5, 2011

probably has more to do with

probably has more to do with the incredible marketing push against drunk driving in cities across the country. And the almost insane amount of check-points. Probably a HUGE stretch to connect this to decline, and I would say that this is welcome news as well.

 

HURRICANEWARNING

9:10 PM ET

October 5, 2011

Enough doom and gloom

Enough doom and gloom decline-o-meter nonsesnse. We are in a temporary rut. If you honestly think that this is the real, and final decline of the United States of America then you clearly have no grasp of history, and the fundamentals that really decide why a country is powerful or not. We aren't going anywhere; we're just taking it on the chin right now. We'll be back. It aint over till it's over, and when it's over...trust me, you'll KNOW it.

 

OYUNY

9:21 AM ET

October 6, 2011

very ironic

Enough doom and gloom decline-o-meter nonsense!
oyun

 

HECTORBD

1:24 PM ET

October 6, 2011

Be Safe

Of course no, even the other people in every areas of the world, we should not drive drunk period. Better be safe than sorry. No excuse for driving drunk.

 

ARCONDICIONADO11

9:02 PM ET

October 6, 2011

Doom and gloom

If you honestly think that this is the real, and final decline of the United States of America then you clearly have no grasp of history, and the fundamentals that really decide why a country is powerful or not. We aren't going anywhere; we're just taking it on the chin right now.
ArCondicionado Imovel Acompanhante Massagem Ar Automotivo

 

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