America Needs More Functioning Alcoholics
The article is an opinion piece suggesting that mild workplace alcohol consumption, as depicted in the 1960s-era show 'Mad Men,' may have contributed to creativity and productivity during a period of strong economic growth. The author cites a study indicating that mild intoxication can enhance certain aspects of creative thinking by reducing cognitive inhibition. While acknowledging the dangers of excessive drinking, the author argues that moderate, functional alcohol use in professional settings may have underappreciated benefits.
- ▪The article references the TV show 'Mad Men' to illustrate widespread alcohol consumption in 1960s American workplaces.
- ▪A 2017 study cited in the article found that mild alcohol consumption improved performance on a creative problem-solving task.
- ▪The author claims that being slightly intoxicated helped him effectively manage a high-pressure editing situation at the Daily Caller.
- ▪The U.S. experienced a 5% GDP growth during the post-WWII era, a time when workplace drinking was more common.
- ▪The author distinguishes between functional, moderate drinking and harmful alcoholism, advocating neither extreme.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Opinion America Needs More Functioning Alcoholics OPINION (Photo by Val Wilmer/Getty Images) John Loftus Editor at Large May 01, 2026 2:17 PM ET May 01, 2026 2:17 PM ET John Loftus Editor at Large Font Size: const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => { const adDivToHide = document.querySelector("#dailycaller_incontent_1"); if (adDivToHide && dc_noads_page) { adDivToHide.classList.add("hide-premium", "hide-free"); observer.disconnect(); console.log("Ad div found and hidden"); } }); observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true }); This post is adapted from the Daily Caller’s Substack, State of the Day. Click here to sign up.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Daily Caller.
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