Everybody drinks every day, be it the water essential to human life or some other beverages. This course surveys the drinks that have played major roles on the global stage, from the “soft,” including water, milk, and Coca- Cola, through the alcoholic beer, wine, and distillates, to the caffeinated coffee, tea, and chocolate that are among the first truly global commodities. Among the themes explored are how these drinks implicate questions of social justice in both ancient and modern economies. How do multinational beverage companies conserve or exploit environmental resources? How did urban coffeehouses and drinking venues change political and social dynamics, and do they still hold sway in the digital age? Is/should water be a commodity? What is the role of governments and institutions to ensure essential access or to regulate behaviors through prohibitions? How do religious, cultural, and medical beliefs influence consumption patterns?