tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post4180718715596916451..comments2024-03-11T00:31:41.186-07:00Comments on The Oregon Economics Blog: Beeronomics: Happy HoursPatrick Emersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17242234148546323374noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-26274054902956559562010-04-19T14:38:37.889-07:002010-04-19T14:38:37.889-07:00Again, I would suggest looking at the subtext of t...Again, I would suggest looking at the subtext of the process, rather than their explanation. The process is a slow residing of prohibition type regulatory structure, without giving away the farm and getting disbanded. Look for token gestures every few years to pacify public outcry, yet prevent too close an examination of their value provided by lawmakers.Dann Cutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788286445033083370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-46262929632103904062010-04-19T14:33:57.680-07:002010-04-19T14:33:57.680-07:00I'm never sure how to evaluate things from an ...I'm never sure how to evaluate things from an economist's perspective, but as a matter of public policy, it's totally incoherent.<br /><br />The claim that this particular dividing of the baby will "ensure against price wars" seems the most dubious. Since publishing the prices is kosher ($2 beers at Bob's Bar during happy hour!), how exactly does the OLCC plan to stop price wars? And how, exactly, is the issue of price wars even the purview of the OLCC. <br /><br />Pinheads.Jeff Alworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02930119177544342495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-76279953238646258452010-04-19T14:33:33.066-07:002010-04-19T14:33:33.066-07:00I'm never sure how to evaluate things from an ...I'm never sure how to evaluate things from an economist's perspective, but as a matter of public policy, it's totally incoherent.<br /><br />The claim that this particular dividing of the baby will "ensure against price wars" seems the most dubious. Since publishing the prices is kosher ($2 beers at Bob's Bar during happy hour!), how exactly does the OLCC plan to stop price wars? And how, exactly, is the issue of price wars even the purview of the OLCC. <br /><br />Pinheads.Jeff Alworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02930119177544342495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-1336685595787967292010-04-19T10:17:05.926-07:002010-04-19T10:17:05.926-07:00I think we are taking their statements of reason t...I think we are taking their statements of reason too literally. The OLCC is a money maker, but still likely trending towards dissolution. The resistance to this is its efforts to restrict consumption as viewed by conservative lawmakers as a positive. Therefore, it must act both in terms of economic demand (happy hour advertisement) and self preservation (drinking moderation). <br /><br />Under those terms, we can lay out a liner chart of the likely changes in rules, laws and governance of spirits in the state of Oregon. At one hand we have the Prohibition like Utah model, on the other we have the Vegas like 'drink on the street' (or better, the worst I have encountered is the Louisiana model, wherein you have drive-through daiquiri bars). <br /><br />As such, given the above parameters, and the scale one assigns each decision point along the linear scale, we can likely attribute the decision as a 'small step' along the linear process. As OLCC is currently trending, we can continue to expect it to move towards the vegas model... however, as it moves along this scale, it will make moves which do not in the specific context make sense, but whose rationale on the scale of inhibition vs prohibition, are more readily definable. <br /><br />Thus, analyzing this in economic terms doesn't necessarily lead to a rational conclusion. Yes, if we consider it in terms of socioeconomic politics, in is a rational step in the current trend. <br /><br />--<br /><br />I, for one, am quite content with this small difference - as while drink specials are nice, more often than not, I am just looking for a happy hour at one on the list of various establishments I know serve a decent beer, as I can then more likely limit my food bill while getting a pint of decent brew. Working literally a stones throw away from the Rogue Brewery with $5.75 pints, any alternative is a favorable economic outcome if I can find an alternative.Dann Cutterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788286445033083370noreply@blogger.com