Emily VelascoMar 16

I keep seeing articles like this, about how people choosing to drink less is hurting bars and restaurants, and it's almost always framed as people, especially younger generations, don't like to drink.

They never seem to bring up the fact that a cocktail is like $20 now unless you go to a really divey dive bar. It's the same kind of reporting they on how no one goes to the movies anymore. It's always about changing habits, and never that movie tickets just cost a lot now.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/16/dining/us-alcohol-restaurants.html

Dinner and No Drinks: Restaurants Are Struggling as Americans Drink Less

Traditionally a reliable revenue stream for restaurants, alcoholic drinks are down markedly — and the bottom line is, too.

The New York Times
Show threadEmily VelascoMar 16
There are limits, and if I can buy two bottles of vodka from the grocery store for the price of a single cocktail, I'm going to opt to not have that cocktail most of the time
Show threadEmily VelascoMar 16
There's a burrito place near me that I really like, that I've been eating at for years. I used to go once a week or so, but since the pandemic, the price of a burrito went from $5 to $11, and that's just too much! I eat there once every few months now. It doesn't mean I don't like burritos though.
Show threadChuckMar 16
@MLE_online I heard an economist lecture where he expressed the "correct" price for a Movie ticket was 'one hour of minimum wage' Basically that was the optimum amount of 'work' someone would do to go to the movies regularly.
Show threadEmily VelascoMar 16
@ChuckMcManis if someone told me they would give me a movie ticket if i worked for an hour, i would tell them to fuck off. that's too much work to watch a movie
Show threadDavidMar 16

@MLE_online @ChuckMcManis

i agree. i'd work 15 minutes to get four movie tickets, though

Show threadEmily Velasco
@drdrowland @ChuckMcManis yes!
Mar 16 at 11:51pmWeb