NFDS
2102

Drinking History: A Global Journey

Schools of Public Engagement: BPATS

Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
Degree Students
Drinking History
Spring 2026
Taught By: Cathy Kaufman
Section: A

CRN: 16429

Credits: 3

Everybody drinks everyday, and the drinks menu may range from the morning’s eye-opening shot of caffeine, perhaps a fizzy soda or milk midday, to something alcoholic in the evening, with the ubiquitous bottled water ever-present in contemporary America. How did these drinks become our quotidian refreshments? To answer this question, we will survey the roles that wine, beer, distillates, cocktails, coffee, tea, chocolate, soda and water have played in different societies throughout history, examining what these beverages can tell us about the technological, economic, religious, political and social structures of key drinking cultures. We will study such cultural landmarks as the symposium of ancient Greece, the political tinderboxes of Restoration England's coffeehouses, Japan’s “way of tea” and it surprising relationship to medieval war, or the soft root ‘beers’ that became the darling of Temperance crusaders. We’ll conclude with a look at water access and its relationship to capitalism, as well as contemporary soda politics and the debates over American culture as expressed through a Coke.

Prerequisites: No Prerequisites
Co-Requisites: No Co-requisites

College: Schools of Public Engagement (NS)

Department: BPATS (BPAT)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 21

Repeat Limit: N/A

Add/Drop Deadline: February 3, 2026 (Tuesday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: April 14, 2026 (Tuesday)

Seats Available: Yes

Status: Open*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 1:50pm EDT 10/8/2025

Meeting Info:
Days: Thursday
Times: 1:55pm - 3:45pm
Building: TBD
Room: TBD
Date Range: 1/21/2026 - 5/12/2026