Ride-Sharing, Alcohol Consumption, and Drunk Driving
Abstract
This research studies the effect of Uber’s entry on alcohol-related behaviors across major United States’ metropolitan areas by using a difference-in-differences method as an identification strategy.
The results show that the introduction of Uber has a positive and significant effect on the intensive margin of alcohol consumption, measured by binge alcohol use. However, Uber’s entry has no impact on the extensive margin of alcohol consumption, measured by the number of alcohol using days, or on driving under the influence of alcohol among adults in the sample on average. The effect of Uber on binge alcohol use varies across demographic groups. The findings are robust to various tests.
Implications
This study found that Uber has increased binge alcohol use among American adults. The alcohol using days have not been increased, but users seem to be engaging in binge alcohol use more than before on the days that they do use alcohol.
The results contribute to the debate on Uber’s social impacts, and policymakers can use the implications of the study to improve alcohol control policies,” said Dr. You Zhou, study author from the University of Hong Kong, as per the Daily Mail.
Dr. You Zhou, study author, University of Hong Kong