1. Coca-Cola is the best-selling soft (non-alcoholic) drink in the world. 165 million "Cokes" are sold every day, from the equator to the Arctic. But whereas outside the USA Coke tends to be a young person's drink, inside the USA anybody of any age or income can drink it without embarrassment on any occasion.

2. Coke is not the only "cola" drink. Pepsi Cola is a well-known rival and has its devotees, for it is not as sweet as Coke. Cola drinks contain caffeine from the kola nut and are the only soft drinks which are stimulating as well as refreshing.

3. There are excellent wines produced in California which are praised by European connoisseurs, but some Americans prefer stronger stuff. Well-off Americans consume a lot of alcohol in the form of cocktails—mixtures based on spirits like whisky, gin and vodka.

4. Hamburgers and hot dogs are perhaps the best known American foods. Hot dogs—sausages between bread rolls—can be bought in snack bars and from hot dog stands on street comers. And from San Francisco to New York, in cheap or medium-priced restaurants, hamburgers will be on all the menus, in company with steaks, fried chicken and seafood. They come with French fries and crisp green salad. In most cases it is certainly good value for money. For dessert you will be offered apple pie, cheese cake, chocolate layer cake, ice cream and ice cream sundaes. No ice cream in the world is more delicious than American ice cream.