Whiskey and Global Trade

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Whiskey and Global Trade: A Cask-Strength Dram of Political Economy and International Law. This course examines whiskey through the lenses of political economy and international law. From “sin” taxes to health warnings on bottles, the course examines government incentives to promote and restrict commerce in whiskey. Building on this, the course turns to disputes among countries over whiskey trade, starting with famous Japan—Alcohol II case at the World Trade Organization and ending with and potential litigation against Thailand. Students will gain a deep appreciation for “like goods,” fiscal and non-fiscal “national treatment,” and science-based assessments of the trade-restrictiveness of regulatory politics.