# Coke Zero may soon be phased out **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [June 10, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561 "2017-06-10T01:53:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/1 "2017-06-10T01:53:22Z")
I loves me some Coke Zero. Ever since this alternative to Diet Coke (bleeargh) came out I have been a die-hard consumer. Sugar-free and tastes distinctively sort-of-like Coca Cola, but in a way that is thirst-quenching and satisfying. It is really popular here in Australia, whenever I go to the supermarket there is never enough on the shelves, it disappears faster than any other Coke flavour. So why, why, why are they [phasing it out](http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/coke-no-sugar-launches-in-australia-heavy-with-promise-amid-flagging-sales/news-story/fc5b91f62afeb6443cfde1b72b39a0de)? A new version is about to start trials here, called “Coke No Sugar” (ugh), and is said to more closely emulate the original Coke’s flavour. I’m not sure that’s what anybody is after, they already like what Coke Zero tastes like, it’s its own thing. Not The Real Thing, more like The Simulated Thing. But that’s okay, we all love it! On a related note, I am a great fan of Cherry Coke, but it has been tested in these markets also, once in New Zealand in the 90s, and once here in Australia in around 2010, which included Cherry Coke Zero, and I loooooved it. But it just didn’t take, most people rejected it, and it vanished quite quickly both times. I am one of those people who has a limited diet, and every couple of years it gets more limited as one of my favourite things is permanently taken off the market. **sigh** ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/2 "2017-06-10T02:05:14Z")
That blows. I really like it too. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/3 "2017-06-10T02:16:01Z")
Cherry Coke Zero is the only soda I drink; this is terrible news. IMO, Coke Zero tastes _better_ than regular Coke flavors ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/4 "2017-06-10T02:34:27Z")
I did a little research and it looks like this is only happening in Australia at the moment. \ [ > [@](#): > > It’s unclear when Coke Zero will be officially retired and when the U.S. might see similar changes. > > “We will let consumers determine that,” Mercade told The Age. ]([RIP Coke Zero? New drink Coca-Cola No Sugar launching in Australia - syracuse.com](http://www.syracuse.com/us-news/index.ssf/2017/06/coke_zero_retired_coca-cola_no_sugar.html)) Let us know what you think of the new (horribly named) product, **GuanoLad**. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that your reaction is 😃 and not :eek:. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/5 "2017-06-10T02:39:06Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Let us know what you think of the new (horribly named) product, **GuanoLad**. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that your reaction is 😃 and not :eek:. I’ll take the hit. **salutes** ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/6 "2017-06-10T02:43:22Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I’ll take the hit. **salutes** Hey, if it’s bad, I might have an idea. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to tell people I was in the export/import business. I wonder if there’d be a market for US sodas and snacks there? I bet Wise potato chips would sell well. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/7 "2017-06-10T02:48:46Z")
Coke Zero is a staple of life for me, I feel really bad for you. I don’t know about this new Coke No Sugar thing, but I hope you will at least still have Diet Coke. I think the Diet Coke with Lime is pretty good. And in case of emergency, Diet Pepsi with fresh lemon squeezed into it is actually excellent, in fact I should get that again soon. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/8 "2017-06-10T03:07:31Z")
It’s the second best, behind Pepsi Max(now called Pepsi Zero Sugar). I would have ranked Coke Zero #1 a year or two ago, but Pepsi Zero Sugar is better than regular Pepsi and regular Coke. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/9 "2017-06-10T03:19:07Z")
I think Coke Zero is vile. :o I know it’s popular. Other people obviously like it. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/10 "2017-06-10T03:23:13Z")
The only good Coke product is Diet Coke Lime. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/11 "2017-06-10T03:29:05Z")
I was scared for a minute there. I thought they were discontinuing Coke Zero in the U.S. I’m more of a fan of Coke Vanilla Zero and Coke Cherry Zero than of the original Coke Zero, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/12 "2017-06-10T03:36:00Z")
I think traditional diet soda with aspartame is just so deeply ingrained in our culture that it has become the default taste that everyone is used to. This is why sucralose/acesulfame K-based sweeteners are facing an uphill battle (IMO). It’s a shame tho, the new sweeteners are _so_ much better. ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/13 "2017-06-10T03:40:09Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I’ll take the hit. **salutes** There goes a brave man. _salutes_ Godspeed son. _Godspeed._ ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/14 "2017-06-10T05:03:12Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I was scared for a minute there. I thought they were discontinuing Coke Zero in the U.S. Well that’s the ultimate plan. Australia will be the test zone on whether it’s a good idea or not. I say nay, before it’s even begun. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/15 "2017-06-10T06:24:04Z")
I bloody love Coke Zero. I was at a large shopping mall here in the UK last week (Trafford Centre) and they were giving out free mini cans outside John Lewis, so it seems like they’re doing some extra marketing for it here. Our local supermarket has recently started stocking Vanilla Coke Zero, but I’d love them to stock Raspberry Coke Zero, which I’ve only ever seen in New Zealand so that’s over ten years ago. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/16 "2017-06-10T11:04:58Z")
I despise Diet Coke but absolutely love Vanilla Coke Zero. Really hope it sticks around. Sent from my SCH-I435 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/17 "2017-06-10T12:19:17Z")
> [@MovieMogul](#): > > I despise Diet Coke. So true. Diet Coke is terrible. The only thing worse is regular Diet Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/18 "2017-06-10T12:25:56Z")
Coke Zero in all its varieties is a staple in our house. Diet Coke as an adequate substitute but we prefer Coke Zero. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/19 "2017-06-10T12:34:45Z")
I’d try Coke Zero but they don’t sell a caffeine-free version around here. So I’m still doing original caffeine-free diet Coke. It’s really puzzling that in many places (restaurants and such) don’t sell a single soda that is sugar free _and_ caffeine free. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/20 "2017-06-10T13:17:14Z")
I love Coke Zero. I got nervous when I read the thread title but seems like the US is safe. If anything I’ve noticed it is getting more popular. More restaurants seem to carry it now and I have started to see a caffeine free version around as well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561.md?page=2)