Final answer:
Coca is often accompanied by an alcoholic beverage during ritual activities, which helps participants to endure long ceremonies and to manifest their social status within the community, as seen in different cultures like the Incas and the Kuba society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Coca is frequently accompanied by an alcoholic beverage during all ritual activities. These beverages may be made from corn, grain, or fruit, and were integral parts of sacred ceremonies, including the Inca empire's offerings to their gods. The Incas, for example, worshiped the sun god Inti and offered coca leaves along with other items such as food and clothing. The consumption and offerings of coca, with its stimulating properties, helped participants endure long ceremonies, including nights of dancing or walking for long periods at high altitudes.
The association between coca leaves and alcoholic drinks extended beyond the Incas. In different cultures, such as the Kuba society, an alcoholic drink made from the raffia palm was favored by men of high status, who used custom prestige vessels to consume it, highlighting their position within the community. Thus, the use of coca alongside alcoholic beverages has a rooted presence in ritual practices across various cultures in South America.