Hello and welcome to the intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer. Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Today, though, we're taking a step away from the news to take a look at some offbeat global

stories. This year has done much to highlight the notion of isolation, but it can mean more than

just crimped social and familial ties. Our correspondent gets to know a remote French village,

a place out of time where isolation also brings a rare kind of

solace. And even if you haven't been to the Sistine Chapel, you've never seen it like this.

We crack the spines of a lush three-volume set of books that examines every inch of Michelangelo's

masterpiece from up close. Very close.

First up, though.

In Mexico, the pandemic has hit hard.

A government analysis found almost 200,000 excess deaths from March to the end of September.

Earlier this year, the country's COVID-19 Tsar pointed his finger at an unlikely culprit.

Hugo Lopez Gaté called fizzy drinks a bottled poison.

Three-quarters of Mexicans are overweight, a condition that can increase the severity of COVID-19.

But Mr. Lopez-Gate didn't name the drink in question. He didn't really have to.

Every country has its own national drink, the French drink wine. The Germans love their beer.

The Italians have their coffee. In Mexico, the national drink is Coca-Cola.

Richard Enzor is the economist's Mexico City Bureau Chief. The last time Coca-Cola released

global consumption statistics broken down by country, Mexico was at the top of the list by quite

some distance. They were drinking 50% more than the second place country on that list.

And that gives you an insight into just how central Coca-Cola is to everyday life for so many Mexicans.

And what does that look like on the ground?

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