physorg.com— People who consume alcohol earn significantly more at their jobs than non-drinkers, according to a US study published Thursday that highlighted "social capital" gained from drinking.
Sep 14, 2006View in Crawl 4
@HMTKSteve: Ah yes, the old "correlation = causation" ... it couldn't possibly be because people with higher income have more stressful jobs, or possibly more to spend on alcohol. Clearly, making money causes you to drink! How's that for spin? ;)
Not really. It's really saying if you don't drink you are less likely to go out and socialize which means you earn less "social capital" hence you earn less at work. Obviously you can still go out and schmooze it up even if you don't drink.That is to say, there is a direct correlation between not drinking and social prowess, a direct correlation between social prowess and pay rate, therefore an indirect correlation between not drinking and and pay rate.The study seems misleading to me.
I'm not going to read nearly 60 comments to see if anyone else made this point, but isn't it possible that people with high-income jobs are also under more stress to keep those jobs and therefore may possibly turn to alcohol as a stress reliever? I think it's far more likely that the job causes the alcohol consumption and not the other way around.
don't be down, drink has nothing to do with success, its all about social skills. I don't drink but I get on with many people and have become somewhat successful.Correlation != causation. too many unknowns in this "study"
Agree. I won't get rich if I start eating caviar. The investigators should be embarrassed for the article. I don't agree that this is the fault of stupid journalists. In their response the investigators seem to think that causation was not just plausible but probable.
ogmoSep 15, 2006
@HMTKSteve: Ah yes, the old "correlation = causation" ... it couldn't possibly be because people with higher income have more stressful jobs, or possibly more to spend on alcohol. Clearly, making money causes you to drink! How's that for spin? ;)
warfangSep 15, 2006
If you look really closely before the page loads you'll see a Coor's Watermark...
fredrickoSep 15, 2006
Not really. It's really saying if you don't drink you are less likely to go out and socialize which means you earn less "social capital" hence you earn less at work. Obviously you can still go out and schmooze it up even if you don't drink.That is to say, there is a direct correlation between not drinking and social prowess, a direct correlation between social prowess and pay rate, therefore an indirect correlation between not drinking and and pay rate.The study seems misleading to me.
rimcoSep 15, 2006
I'm not going to read nearly 60 comments to see if anyone else made this point, but isn't it possible that people with high-income jobs are also under more stress to keep those jobs and therefore may possibly turn to alcohol as a stress reliever? I think it's far more likely that the job causes the alcohol consumption and not the other way around.
1citizenSep 15, 2006
I could relate to this being true in the fact that some would have more confidence in a stressful situation with alcohol being the stimulant
jedikvSep 16, 2006
don't be down, drink has nothing to do with success, its all about social skills. I don't drink but I get on with many people and have become somewhat successful.Correlation != causation. too many unknowns in this "study"
mintyfreshSep 19, 2006
Agree. I won't get rich if I start eating caviar. The investigators should be embarrassed for the article. I don't agree that this is the fault of stupid journalists. In their response the investigators seem to think that causation was not just plausible but probable.