Unit 2: Alcohol consumption; an example of a demerit good

A brief clip from the BBC outlining the new plans for drinks labelling

< http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6690000/newsid_6697300?redirect=6697379.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1 >

a) Why could alcoholic drinks currently de described as a demerit good?
b) How does the market fail in this case?
c) What sort of efficiency is not being achieved?
d) How should the new proposals reduce the market failure?
e) Discuss how effective you think these new measures will be in tackling the problem

This clip outlines another problem with midle aged people drinking at home and once again illustrates the negative externalities associated with alcohol

< http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6720000/newsid_6721800?redirect=6721825.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1 >