Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/51562 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
DICE Discussion Paper No. 37
Publisher: 
Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE), Düsseldorf
Abstract: 
It is a persistent phenomenon in many societies that a large proportion of alcohol consumption takes place in company of other people. While the phenomenon of social or public drinking is well discussed in disciplines as social psychology and anthropology, economists have paid little attention to the social environment of alcohol consumption. This paper tries to close this gap and explains social drinking as a trust facilitating device. Since alcohol consumption tends to make some people (unwillingly) tell the truth, social drinking can eventually serve as a signaling device in social contact games. Empirical support is obtained from a cross-country analysis of trust and a newly developed index of moderate alcohol consumption.
Subjects: 
social and public drinking
alcohol consumption
social contact games
trust
signaling
JEL: 
C72
D71
L14
ISBN: 
978-3-86304-036-9
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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