ABSTRACT
Many of the issues related to the consumption of food, soft drinks, tobacco, alcohol and marijuana are common to most countries. The cross-country analysis presented in this book involved a number of countries with similar lifestyles and provides convincing evidence regarding the consumption of these commodities. We have presented an extensive three-dimensional analysis on the consumption patterns of five consumer goods across countries and over time. The consumer goods considered in this book are both important and controversial. The commodities included in the analysis are (1) food, one of the basic necessity for all consumers; (2) soft drinks, a necessity for some consumers and a luxury for others; (3) alcohol and tobacco, two of the most commonly used licit drugs; and (4) marijuana, the most commonly used illicit drug. The countries considered in the study are a number of developed as well as developing countries. The time period considered are the most recent wherever possible. This chapter presents an overall summary of the conclusions about the consumption patterns of the five consumer goods presented in Chapters 1 to 12.
