Afternoon roundup

A few worthies from some accumulated closing of the browser tabs:

• The UK's drinking guidelines aren't particularly evidence-based. 
• Ann Brower's reflections on earthquakes, dangerous buildings, and policy at the Herald is very good. 
• John Kay's defence of Beveridge-style targeted social insurance over universal transfers covers the bases well. Maybe I just like it because it's about what I say on the same topic. 
• You might like my piece over at NBR on this year's economics Nobel. 
• Making sure schools are effective is important. But they aren't miracle workers. The arguments there tie into broader debate around meritocracy and heredity, the subject of a great BBC radio 4 programme earlier this year but that I only just caught. 
• Ex National Party comms guy Gwynn Compton is skeptical that Labour will be able to square its coalition promises and its election promises with fiscal realities. It'll be interesting.