This pioneering collection of original essays explores the rich analytical category of psycho- active substances from challenging historical and anthropological perspectives.  

Psychoactive substances have been central to the formation of civilizations and the growth of the world economy.  Consuming Habitsdescribes how and why:

• tea and coffee replaced beer on the breakfast tables of 18th century Europe
• in Islamic emirates at the turn of the century kola nuts formed part of tax payments, and were given as gifts by so-called `big men'
• In 1902 opera singers had their doctors prescribe them cocaine to aid singing
• the original version of `coca-cola' was described as a `brain tonic.'

This pioneering collection of original essays explores the rich analytical category of psychoactive substances from challenging historical and anthropological perspectives.