When a good is made illegal consumers react by squeezing more consumption into a
shorter period of time in order to minimize the chances of getting caught per unit of
pleasure. Thus, it is a common observation that adults drink more often than
teenagers but
in less quantity (Thus, I have a glass of wine two to three times a week. Even binge
teenager drinkers probably binge only once a week.) This idea is the consumer side
equivalent to the observation that prohibition increases the incentives of seller's to
push
harder drugs (more dollar per oz thus reducing the chances of being caught).
Alex
Edward Lopez wrote:
> In a Forbes article last year, a professor of health at Indiana University notes
>that since the increase in the legal drinking age to 21 (1987), total amount of
>alcohol consumed dropped but the incidence of EXCESSIVE drinking increased among
>18-20 year olds.
>
> 1. any takers on why?
> 2. is a "forbidden fruit" argument consistent with economic rationality?
>
> Ed.
>
> Edward J. López
> Assistant Professor
> Department of Economics
> University of North Texas
> P.O. Box 311457
> Denton, TX 76203-1457
> Tel: 940.369.7005
> Fax: 940.565.4426
> NEW EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Web: www.econ.unt.edu/elopez
