Beer Glass Shape Reduces Drinking

A recent study conducted by academics at the School of Experimental Psychology in Bristol caught me eye last week. It asserted that the shape of a glass had an influence on the pace at which people drink. It was reported on the BBC website here and harked back to an earlier study that suggested that short, wide glasses also increase the amount of alcohol that people consume. Plenty here for behaviourial economists to get their teeth into; as well as traditional measures to reduce the level of alcohol being consumed, to what extent should governments be looking to 'nudge' people towards behaviour that is deemed more socially optimal?

If you want to consider the issue in more detail, the whole of the original study is available at PLoSOne, the peer reviewed open access journal.

Glass Shape Influences Consumption Rate for Alcoholic Beverages

It makes for interesting reading, in highlighting the methodology of the study - students might like to evaluate this - and also more practical issues: the PED of alcoholic drinks - which are likely to vary across income groups; the fact that glass shape might be tied in to branding and thus brewing companies might have a vested interest in opposing any attempt to alter regulation governing glass shape:

The study was also picked up by Forbes Magazine in the US, the commentator noting that "based on the Bristol research, this glass (the Samuel Adams glass) might deliver another benefit: beer consumed at a much faster rate". Given the relative failure of governments in OECD countries to tackle the negative externalities associated with the consumption of alcohol, it is clear that much work remains to be done on how more efficient outcomes can be obtained via 'nudges' and indeed, Paul Ormerod's excellent "Positive Linking" looks at the network effects associated with binge drinking in much greater length, noting that binge drinkers tend to associate with other binge drinkers.

Of course, it is unlikely that there is a convenient one-size fits all policy solution - different sectors of society have problematic relationships with alcohol in a number of forms. However, for the post-16 students amongst you, you might like to consider the following public health adverts from 2008 - boys'/girls' nights out...

To what extent are they likely to have any effect on your behaviour?

Oh, and enjoy the new term...... but remember ... pace yourself!