Cost of fuel compared to bottled water, soda pop, alcoholic drinks: are we overreacting ?

Our neighbor stopped by yesterday panicking about the cost of gas going up another 20 cents a litre. While I don't like it much, I wonder if people have sat down and compared the value of fuel, and the processing, and the cost of workers compared to everyday items we consume which are much more expensive and certainly can't make the magic of our cars going down the road. Personally I have thought of bottled water, soda pop, fast food, a litre of alcohol: any kind, the cost of a 350 ml drink at the pub, a pack of gum, a coffee at the coffee shop. I never hear people complaining about these things, but everyone is over the top about what they pay for fuel. I think of what it costs fuel manufacturers to discover, pump, employ people, refine the product, ship by truck to our gas stations and wonder how they are making any money at all! This is especially compared to the overhead water, pop, coffee etc costs the vendor. Does anyone have any comments or thoughts on this matter? What things can you think of that we blindly pay similar prices for that in no way have the same value?