# Why do we value beverages so much? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 1, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538 "2017-04-01T20:52:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jebert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ec9cab/32.png) [@jebert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jebert)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/1 "2017-04-01T20:52:24Z")
Well, maybe the question is why are we willing to pay so much for beverages? Just a few years ago wine at a restaurant was $5-6 per glass; now it seems to be $8-9, which is as much as a 60% increase - waaay above inflation. The price of a six-pack of beer seems to go up 50 cents every few months. A cup of Starbuck’s goes for $4 and up (so I’ve heard, not being a coffee drinker). People pay $3 for soda and even bottled water (!) without batting an eyelash. Why are we willing to pay so much to wet our whistles (well, why are YOU so willing; I tend to stay dry til I get home)? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/2 "2017-04-01T20:55:28Z")
I pay good money for good beer (coffee too) because life is short, and I’m gonna enjoy life where and when I’m able. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/3 "2017-04-01T21:01:40Z")
ya really dont have a choice do you? I care not to have to pay more than a buck for my caffeine free Coke Zero/Diet Mountain Dew but I have to on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/4 "2017-04-01T21:12:22Z")
I stopped drinking alcohol about 13 years ago. After that, I drank a lot of fruit juices, until I realized the health benefits weren’t what I had imagined. Since that, I’ve drunk little other than tap water - and a couple of cups of drip coffee in the mornings. Quite often people will act surprised that i am happy to drink tap water. “Don’t you want ice?” “Some lime?” “Sparkling water?” Impressive how just a few drinks will raise a restaurant tab. And can’t imagine why someone would pay for bottled water if their area had good tap water like Chicago, NY, Denver… No answer to your query, other than my agreement that - yeah, folk pay a lot for fluids. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/5 "2017-04-01T21:38:42Z")
These are not budget people who buy these drinks. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/6 "2017-04-01T22:34:20Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > ya really dont have a choice do you? Of course you do. Water is free. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/7 "2017-04-01T22:41:51Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > I pay good money for good beer (coffee too) because life is short, and I’m gonna enjoy life where and when I’m able. This. Plus sometimes you just have a thirst; why not quench it? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/8 "2017-04-01T22:43:02Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Of course you do. Water is free. Have you tasted what passes for water in some places? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/9 "2017-04-01T22:47:28Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > A cup of Starbuck’s goes for $4 and up A regular Starbucks coffee is about $2. The frou-frou stuff goes for $4+. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/10 "2017-04-01T23:04:30Z")
I’m willing to pay more for a pasture-raised, grass-finished steak than for something from the supermarket refrigerated case. Likewise, on the rare occasions I want something sweet to drink, I’ll opt for an organic root beer made with cane sugar over a Coca-Cola. In addition to tasting better, these choices help a small farmer and a small businessman rather than a factory farm and a megacorporation. ---
**Author:** ![sabernode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@sabernode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sabernode)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/11 "2017-04-01T23:58:28Z")
This is a must read… > **[Why The Hell Does Your Drink Cost So Much?](https://deadspin.com/why-the-hell-does-your-drink-cost-so-much-1454231900)** > > I'm not ambitious enough to be downright thrifty, but I try to avoid abject retail stupidity. I know better than to buy paper plates when the free magazines and underwear catalogs that clog my mailbox are perfectly capable of supporting even the... ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/12 "2017-04-02T02:34:30Z")
> [@sabernode](#): > > This is a must read… > > [Deadspin | Why The Hell Does Your Drink Cost So Much?](http://deadspin.com/why-the-hell-does-your-drink-cost-so-much-1454231900) Yeah, this is why I never drink in bars. One cocktail or highball can cost as much a whole bottle of the same base liquor at the wine shop. Also why I keep to one drink while dining out, ever since I stopped having an expense account. Also why I dream about moving to Europe, where the cafes and restaurants don’t do these bullshit mark-ups. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/13 "2017-04-02T03:04:14Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Also why I dream about moving to Europe, where the cafes and restaurants don’t do these bullshit mark-ups. Yep, moving away from the Land of the Free Refill is one _wonderful_ way to save money at restaurants. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/14 "2017-04-02T11:10:29Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Yep, moving away from the Land of the Free Refill is one _wonderful_ way to save money at restaurants. If you know about any bistros that offer free refills on my beer, give me an address. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/15 "2017-04-02T12:41:43Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Also why I dream about moving to Europe, where the cafes and restaurants don’t do these bullshit mark-ups. Which countries in Europe are these where cafes and restaurants can defy the laws of economics? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/16 "2017-04-05T19:55:20Z")
I’m a raging drunk, but I never buy beer or wine when I go out. Financially irresponsible. I get a buzz on at home beforehand. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-we-value-beverages-so-much/783538/17 "2017-04-05T20:50:35Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Have you tasted what passes for water in some places? You get accustomed to it; after a while it seems tasteless.