ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to integrate the isolated and fragmentary information on beverages other than wine into a single description of drinking habits in the Roman world. Classical sources may give an indication of the omnipresence of wine and the different vintages produced, but they are far less clear as to who had access to wine, to what kind of wine and how often. The most important factor for drinking patterns is the productive capacity of the region. Patterns of consumption are intimately related to spending power, in particular when the consumer can practically choose from a large diversity of beverages, ranging from free drinks to expensive alternatives. Real income sets the limits for spending and consumption patterns, which in turn determine people’s living standards, caloric and nutritional intake and ultimately health. Despite many uncertainties and sometimes conflicting evidence, most of the wine consumed was cheap table wine, providing only a limited amount of calories and nutrition.
