[Balgair]

> a night out at the bar is expensive now

I mean, I understand the economics of it. Rent, wages, pricing, supply and demand, etc.

But, like, how messed up are things that hooch is too expensive. Like, it literally grows on trees (if you leave it there a bit). Booze is the thing where sales go up when things get worse (lipstick too, right?).

I'm not saying this is a bad thing that we're not drinking as much, but I am saying that not drinking as much is a sign of really bad things.

[theshackleford]

> But, like, how messed up are things that hooch is too expensive.

In my country, it is now taxed very heavily, and that tax increases every year. I would be insane to choose alcohol as opposed to literally any other drug on a cost basis. I assure you, Cannabis has not raised in price every year.

[sillyfluke]

This stat is way less interesting when it turns out the main driver for the drop is the economy, which my bet is on, and which is why the article buries that cause and puts it towards the end of the article. If the stat can't survive a booming economy it's kind of meaningless.

But it might be very interesting for another reason: it might be confirming the perception of the economy is at an all time low as well.