# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/41 "2017-06-12T16:41:11Z")
Coke Zero was just re-branded Diet Coke for hipsters who didn’t want to drink a “diet” drink. Even thought that’s exactly what it was. Same with Bud Select, which is just re-branded Bud Light as far as I can tell. It’s all about marketing to different segments of your customer base. I won’t miss it, but that’s easy for me to say as an avid Diet Coke drinker. But still, it’s the same thing. Occasionally I drink Coke Zero. In my experience, it was the exact same beverage except in a black container instead of gray. I always pictured the same spigot down at the bottling plant, but some bottles getting the “Zero” label while others got the “Diet” label. I do agree that the “Diet Coke with Splenda” was slightly different, and preferable. But what do I know? I usually buy the store brand “Diet Super Chill” because it’s $2 for a 12 pack instead of $5, and I’m not that picky. ---
**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 12, 2017, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/42 "2017-06-12T17:09:12Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Coke Zero was just re-branded Diet Coke for hipsters who didn’t want to drink a “diet” drink. Even thought that’s exactly what it was. Same with Bud Select, which is just re-branded Bud Light as far as I can tell. It’s all about marketing to different segments of your customer base. > > I won’t miss it, but that’s easy for me to say as an avid Diet Coke drinker. But still, it’s the same thing. Occasionally I drink Coke Zero. In my experience, it was the exact same beverage except in a black container instead of gray. I always pictured the same spigot down at the bottling plant, but some bottles getting the “Zero” label while others got the “Diet” label. > > I do agree that the “Diet Coke with Splenda” was slightly different, and preferable. But what do I know? I usually buy the store brand “Diet Super Chill” because it’s $2 for a 12 pack instead of $5, and I’m not that picky. Wow, not my experience at all. Coke Zero tastes tremendously different than Diet Coke and it isn’t just in my head. Coke Zero, I think, was based of Coca-Cola. Diet Coke is its own thing. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/43 "2017-06-12T17:59:31Z")
Coke Zero and Diet Coke are completely different products. Diet Coke is a separate beverage with its own flavor. Coke Zero is intended to mimic the taste of Coke with zero calories. The only thing they have in common is having zero calories. What is true is they avoided the word “diet” to help appeal to men. Apparently studies have shown men are hesitant to drink things that are named “diet”. Personally I don’t care and drink diet stuff all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/44 "2017-06-12T18:10:11Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Coke Zero and Diet Coke are completely different products. Diet Coke is a separate beverage with its own flavor. Coke Zero is intended to mimic the taste of Coke with zero calories. The only thing they have in common is having zero calories. As I understand it, Coke Zero is the diet version of classic Coke, while Diet Coke is the [diet version of New Coke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola_Zero). (Relevant wiki excerpt below.) > [@Diet Coke Wikipedia entry](#): > > Diet Coke does not use a modified form of the Coca-Cola recipe, but instead an entirely different formula. The controversial New Coke, introduced in 1985, used a version of the Diet Coke recipe that contained high fructose corn syrup and had a slightly different balance of ingredients. In 2004, Coca-Cola introduced Coca-Cola C2, which it claims tastes much closer to Coca-Cola but contains half the carbohydrates. In 2005, the company introduced Coca-Cola Zero, a sugar-free variation of regular Coca-Cola. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/45 "2017-06-12T19:55:31Z")
Snowboarder Bo wrote: > [@](#): > > I bought 6 12-packs of Cherry Coke Zero today. I’m gonna start building my stockpile now, just in case. Old (past expiration date) Cherry Coke Zero makes a good drain-cleaner. (Aspartame really doesn’t age well.) ---
**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 12, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/46 "2017-06-12T20:08:56Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Snowboarder Bo wrote: > Old (past expiration date) Cherry Coke Zero makes a good drain-cleaner. (Aspartame really doesn’t age well.) It was a joke, dude. As noted above, Coke Zero is not going out of production in the US any time soon. I guess I should have included a 😛 for clarity; mea culpa. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/47 "2017-06-12T20:32:27Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I think Coke Zero is vile. > > :o > > I know it’s popular. Other people obviously like it. Another vote for vile. Bitter aftertaste for me. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/48 "2017-06-12T20:41:12Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > It was a joke, dude. As noted above, Coke Zero is not going out of production in the US any time soon. I guess I should have included a 😛 for clarity; mea culpa. Well, conceivably a fan of CCZ might be in the habit of drinking it up well before expiration date and so might not know what old aspartame tastes like. (Really quite awful.) I was going off that surmise and not attempting to imply anything about you, personally. ---
**Author:** ![sich\_hinaufwinden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@sich\_hinaufwinden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sich_hinaufwinden)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/49 "2017-06-12T20:56:01Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 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. I can’t stress enough how much I think you should focus on exporting diapers and just give up the importing of chips (potato/corn) and long matches. Or possibly the other way around - I forget. Whichever it is, I have a very strong opinion on this. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/50 "2017-06-12T21:28:38Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Well, conceivably a fan of CCZ might be in the habit of drinking it up well before expiration date and so might not know what old aspartame tastes like. (Really quite awful.) “We put in just a touch of formaldehyde for flavor.” ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/51 "2017-06-15T11:32:55Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > 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. I thought Zero has always been caffeine free?? If not, must be why my BP is so high! Gotta go read a label. > [@Ambivalid](#): > > _Nothing_ compares to Diet Mountain Dew. Mmm, I prefer it to regular MD by a mile. Yes! Its my caffeine every morning! ---
**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 15, 2017, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/52 "2017-06-15T12:22:53Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > I thought Zero has always been caffeine free?? There’s a caffeine free version, but most Coke Zero has caffeine, 57mg per 20 fl oz. according to the bottle in my hand. ---
**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 15, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/53 "2017-06-15T13:48:33Z")
> [@WildBlueYonder](#): > > I thought Zero has always been caffeine free?? If not, must be why my BP is so high! Gotta go read a label. > > Yes! Its my caffeine every morning! Wait until you have Pepsi Zero Sugar. It’s 69mg caffeine for a 12 oz can. It’s wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/54 "2017-06-15T14:27:56Z")
I’m probably repeating what others have said, but anyway, my opinion on diet colas. _Diet Coke_: okay. _Coke Zero_: Very clear taste difference and much better than Diet Coke. _Cherry Coke Zero_: The cough-syrup variant of Coke Zero. 🙂 It’s okay if I’m in the mood. _Diet Dr Pepper_: Tastes like fermented Cherry Coke Zero. Again, not my first choice, but it’s a nice diversion from time to time. _Diet Pepsi_ (original): like Diet Coke, but tastes like Pepsi. _Diet Pepsi_ (new): now with sucralose rather than aspartame. I like the taste much better. Almost as good as Coke Zero. _Pepsi Max_: Tastes like a Pepsi with some oriental medicine mixed in (ginger, I believe). It’s good, but I have to be in the mood for it. (And when I am, I prefer it over Coke Zero.) My last birthday, as a special treat, I had a bottle of Coke, not diet, not high-fructose corn syrup. It’d been years since I had one. My impression now is Coke tastes like Coke Zero, but with different mouth-feel. I could get used to it, but I like Coke Zero better. I drink far more Coke Zero than any other pop. If they discontinued it, I probably switch to Diet Pepsi over Diet Coke. If they replaced it with something else, I expect it’d be similar enough to Coke Zero that I’d keep with the new branding. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/55 "2017-06-15T19:35:33Z")
I have drank Diet soda so long, regular soda tastes like the liquid candy it essentially is. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2017, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/56 "2017-06-15T21:19:26Z")
I was curious about Pepsi Zero Sugar after reading this thread so I tried it today. It is very good. It tastes more like real Pepsi to me than Coke Zero tastes like real Coke. I don’t think it will replace my beloved Coke Zero as a staple, but I will definitely buy it again. I really liked it. ---
**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 15, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/57 "2017-06-15T23:54:13Z")
> [@Periwinkle](#): > > I was curious about Pepsi Zero Sugar after reading this thread so I tried it today. It is very good. It tastes more like real Pepsi to me than Coke Zero tastes like real Coke. I don’t think it will replace my beloved Coke Zero as a staple, but I will definitely buy it again. I really liked it. One of us. One of us. I like it and the caffeine rush is great. I prefer it over regular Pepsi or Coca-Cola. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/58 "2017-06-16T02:15:40Z")
A diet drink discovery I made some time ago: Fresca doesn’t advertise as a diet drink but it has zero calories. It’s not to everyone’s taste but I like it. ---
**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 17, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/59 "2017-06-17T16:53:36Z")
I tried Pepsi Zero Sugar and didn’t care for it. It tastes the same as Pepsi Max, IIRC, including that weird ginseng-y taste. OTOH, I had forgotten about a favorite that can be hard to find and managed to score a couple of 12-packs of Diet Sunkist Lemonade. WOOT! ---
**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 18, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561/60 "2017-06-18T05:08:51Z")
“Coke No Sugar” (ugly label design [here](http://www.newshub.co.nz/dam/form-uploaded-images/coca-cola-coke-no-sugar-NEWSHUB-1120.jpg)) is out here this week. I have purchased a bottle, and will report back in a few days, after it’s chilled a bit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-zero-may-soon-be-phased-out/788561.md?page=4)