Lockdown drinking: The sobering effect of price controls in a pandemic
利用英国四国差异，通过三重差分分析酒精零售数据，发现最低单位定价有效减少了廉价酒精需求，且消费者整体购买量和支出下降，对遏制疫情中过度饮酒有显著作用。
Abstract Lockdown restrictions reduce the spread of COVID‐19 but disrupt livelihoods and lifestyles that can induce harmful behavior changes, including problematic lockdown drinking fueled by cheap alcohol. Exploiting differences amongst the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom, we use triple difference analysis on alcohol retail sales to examine the efficacy of minimum unit pricing as a price control device to help curb excessive consumption in a pandemic setting. We find the policy is remarkably effective and well‐targeted in reducing demand for cheap alcohol, with minimal spillover effects, and consumers overall buying and spending less.