Causes Quote by Adam Smith
“The cheapness of wine seems to be a cause, not of drunkenness, but of sobriety. ...People are seldom guilty of excess in what is their daily fare... On the contrary, in the countries which, either from excessive heat or cold, produce no grapes, and where wine consequently is dear and a rarity, drunkenness is a common vice.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith, 1776
Wine’s scarcity can increase its desirability, yet paradoxically, societies with abundant wine often exhibit less drunkenness, suggesting cultural factors outweigh price.
In simple terms: Scarcity of wine doesn’t always cause drunkenness.
Consider cultural habits over price.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- public health policy
- marketing strategies
- social drinking norms
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural attitudes shape drinking?
- Can policy change behavior without altering price?
Price alone doesn’t dictate consumption patterns.