Sintra sociologist Vasco Ramos, a researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon, won the João Ferreira de Almeida Prize 2025, awarded by Iscte and the Portuguese Association of Sociology, in the category of scientific article. The study analyzes the relationship between social class, consumption and eating habits in Portugal, concluding that there are significant differences in alcoholic beverage consumption patterns according to social position.
Published in 2023 in the scientific journal Journal of Consumer Culture, the study was based on the Household Expenditure Survey by Statistics Portugal, conducted between 2015 and 2016, with 11,398 families and 29,901 people. The data indicate that Portuguese families spent on average 171 euros on alcoholic beverages in 2024. The so-called "cultural fractions," with high educational and professional capital linked to the arts and higher education, are among the biggest spenders on beverages for home consumption, while top managers and executives show a greater tendency for out-of-home consumption. Wine is the most consumed beverage regardless of social position, spirits are associated with the most economically advantaged groups, and beer gains importance as economic capacity decreases.
In a subsequent investigation, Vasco Ramos also analyzed the division of tasks related to meal preparation, identifying persistent gender inequalities. The data shows that 88% of women prepare their own breakfast, while 52% of men have this meal prepared by a woman in the family. Male participation is reduced at main meals: 18% at lunch and 19% at dinner. The differences are particularly evident in households without children and in the elderly population, where more than 80% of home-cooked meals are prepared by women. Male involvement increases in households with children, standing between 23% and 28%, but the balanced division of tasks remains a minority.
The results of this second investigation come from the Survey on Eating Practices in Portugal (2024), conducted nationwide, including mainland and autonomous regions, with a sample of 1,518 people. Both studies point to the persistence of social and gender inequalities in eating practices, showing how daily habits continue to be related to social position and family organization.
