America is currently suffering through its worst recession in generations. People are out of work, jobs are scarce, incomes are down, but liquor sales are up.
Traditionally, it has been said that during rough economies like the current one people turn to the bottle. As such, the alcohol business has been regarded as being relatively “recession-proof.”
FDR ran on a platform that included Prohibition repeal during a time of absolute economic crisis, and shortly after his election he saw to it that the 21st Amendment was ratified so people could go back to their local bar.
Recent news reports have delcared that despite worldwide current financial woes, people are still drinking, and even spending money on the good stuff. Given, a goodly portion of this news is related to us by the industry itself.
Other media outlets report general concern that the economic crisis is actually spurring liquor sales, and the numbers indicate that the sales are to individual consumers, not to wholesale purchasers like bars, which would suggest that people are drinking at home.
Unemployment tends to mean downtime, and with that an unhealthy dose of boredom and depression. Reports of substance abuse in general increase during times of financial hardship. Finding oblivion is sometimes easy in a bottle; it’s the climbing out once the economy improves that’s difficult. Experts recommend examining behavior in these times and thinking about whether we need help. Remember the Aristotelian ideal: All things in moderation; both drunkenness and sobriety.
Times are tough, but I think it’s important to remember to ask ourselves the big questions: Why are we drinking? Are we self-medicating? Are we merely drowning our sorrows? Is now the time to begin working for a beer distributor?
Good luck out there, and here’s to the new boss, hopefully not the same as the old boss; may he swiftly right the ship.