Executive Chef Karl brought this article to my attention and I had to share it with you. In part, the Freakonomics article says, “A 2004 study by Frank Sloan and Jan Ostermann at Duke University found that heavy drinkers contribute slightly more to Social Security, through their higher average lifetime earnings, than nondrinkers do. What’s more, since alcohol abusers tend to die sooner than moderate or nondrinkers, they draw less money, over time, from the Social Security trust fund.”
While the Sloan/Ostermann study did not look at the cost of policing heavy drinkers, News of the Weird seemed a likely resource to dig up a few examples:
On Nov. 18, two inebriated men in separate cars, driving by the Carpet Classic Floor Studio in Highland Township, Mich., lost control at the same time, and both smashed into the store. [WJLA-TV (Washington, D.C.)-AP, 11-19-07]
Christopher Dougherty, 22, the subject of a "drunk pedestrian" police call in Kingsport, Tenn., on Oct. 14, was tracked to a Hardee's restaurant, where he was face-down in a plate of gravy. [Kingsport Times-News, 10-17-07]
Tina Williams was arrested in St. Augustine, Fla., on Super Bowl Sunday, charged with DUI and failure to have her 1-year-old daughter seat-belted or in a car seat. However, a case of Busch beer was safely buckled up in the front seat. [First Coast News, 2-4-08]
A phenomenal resort destination! To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Downtown Repalone is YOUR bar! "All I Wanted Was a Sink!"