A must read for alcohol studies scholars.--CHOICE An enthralling piece of research that considers the history of alcohol from the ancient world right through to trends in modern regulation and consumption.--Jancis Robinson, wine expert and editor of The Oxford Companion to Wine A major achievement. . . . Provides an essential introduction to the social, cultural, and economic role of alcohol in human history.--Canadian Journal of History An ambitious book, which succeeds at least in part because of Phillips's elegant style and his nose for recurring themes." --Times Literary Supplement A must read for alcohol studies scholars.--"CHOICE"