I teach a freshman course called "Alcohol and Civilization", and have found
Schivelbusch (Tastes of Paradise) useful as a starting point for a
conversation.  Of course it ranges from the subject of drink and
over-generalizes, but it is one of the few books in English that provides a
"grand theory" (that can be tested with additional articles on each period)
and makes pleasant reading for undergrads.
I have a syllabus (unfortunately not complete) at my web site
(www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/tlusty/courses.html).
cheers,
Ann T.

At 10:12 AM 9/11/99 -0400, you wrote:
>I'm proposing a course on the history of alcohol, broadly construed (I'll
>narrow it down soon enough) and am looking for decent general histories, or
>collections.  I know of "The changing face of drink" and earlier
>collections ("Alcohol, Reform and Society" for example.. part of my
>personal Jack Blocker library!) but could use a few more suggestions...
>especially something that is accessible for non-historians.
>
>The course I'm proposing is for general students, but especially students
>of viticulture, so wine history would also be useful.
>
>I know similar questions have been asked of this list before, but they were
>a while back, and new material might be available (for example, I seem to
>recall Rod Phillips was talking about developing such a course or text a
>few months ago).  So any suggestions will be appreciated.
>
>Cheers.
>
>Dan Malleck
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>
>"It is not because things are difficult that we do not try them, it is
>because we do not try them that they are difficult."  --Seneca
>