A news study raises questions about the public health effects of the widespread availability of a ride enabled by companies like Uber and Lyft—while it's easier to avoid drunk driving, it's also easier to drink.
An article published by The Economist reveals a new twist in the ongoing scientific inquiry into the effects ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft have had in society:
Among other things, Uber has made it far easier for party-goers to get home safely. One study published in 2017 found that after Uber’s arrival in Portland, Oregon, alcohol-related car crashes declined by 62%. But at the same time, the spread of ride-hailing apps may have tempted people to drink to excess, knowing that they won’t be at the wheel. A new study by three economists—Jacob Burgdorf and Conor Lennon of the University of Louisville, and Keith Teltser of Georgia State University—finds that the widespread availability of ride-sharing apps has indeed made it easier for the late-night crowd to binge.
The article details the city's methodology, and briefly discusses the scientific ambivalence about the public health impacts of ride-hailing companies.
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