# Is Coke Zero or Pepsi Zero Sugar available where you live right now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [July 24, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221 "2020-07-24T15:05:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2020, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/41 "2020-07-26T22:36:27Z")
I buy snacks for our department at work, and since the end of June it has been impossible to find Coke Zero, Diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Mountain Dew in any of the big box stores, and I’m a member of three different ones. Only this week did they get regular Coke back in stock. And Diet Coke, which my colleagues will begrudgingly drink. I don’t drink any of this stuff but I find it incredible that there’s shortages of this stuff. Oh we still can’t get Clorox or Lysol wipes, but brand name toilet paper is no problem. ---
**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:** [August 17, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/42 "2020-08-17T15:47:29Z")
I’m in Michigan, by the way. Not sure if I indicated that. Update: I have been to several stores in the last few weeks and during that time, both Coke Zero and Pepsi Zero sugar were entirely missing. I’m talking CVS pharmacies and various other places(7-Eleven, etc.). However, Pepsi Zero Sugar returned last week and was on sale. I ludicrously bought 5 24-packs, the most I’ve bought in my entire life. Coke Zero was still out of stock. I asked the Coke and Pepsi stockers and they told me they had not seen either product for a few months. It’s definitely a Michigan thing, I guess, but they both had not seen it for a long time. Both claimed it was a supply issue, not that it was being bought out. They were not stocking “Zero” products for quite awhile in my area. Hardly top executives, but they seemed to know what they were talking about. Pepsi and Coke guys are always there at the same time where I shop. I find that funny. Coke Zero was in stock today, but barely. I think there was one 12-pack and I bought it. So, things are gradually returning in Michigan. I have no idea why Michigan was the area these were so sparse, but it was. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/43 "2020-08-17T17:50:07Z")
Little mining town about 100 miles S-SW of St. Louis, MO. Yes, in the cooler at the Dollar General. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/44 "2020-08-17T18:18:41Z")
No shortage of Coke Zero here, but I live in the Atlanta metro. We’d likely be the last ones affected. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/45 "2020-08-17T18:30:07Z")
There is a slight shortage of the artificial sweetener used in diet drinks, over half comes from China. Try flavored sparkling water, I have largely switched to that. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/46 "2020-08-18T00:56:25Z")
We’ve had the base Coke Zero 12-can packs pretty much all along, but the Cherry and other varieties have been gone for two months or better. No Fresca available except the not-really-Fresca seltzer-water variety (no artificial sweetener in those, which may be a sign that it IS lack of the sweetener that’s the bottleneck, not carbonation or aluminum or other theorized issues). Those are the only two I buy so I’m not sure exactly what else is missing in the Coke aisle—but clearly a lot is, because after a couple of months of empty shelves, the stores have now taken to filling the empty space with bottled water. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/47 "2020-08-18T01:00:36Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > We’ve had the base Coke Zero 12-can packs pretty much all along, but the Cherry and other varieties have been gone for two months or better. This has been my experience in Las Vegas as well. Thankfully, I can still get cherry juice concentrate at Sprouts and WF. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/48 "2020-08-18T01:03:15Z")
I haven’t seen any shortage of Coke Zero here in southern Ontario, and it’s my standard go-to soft drink. Usually get the 12-can cases and they’ve always been around. I don’t usually buy other carbonated drinks except for occasional tonic water for G&T, but the shelves in those aisles have always seemed well stocked. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/49 "2020-08-18T01:03:32Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > This has been my experience in Las Vegas as well. Thankfully, I can still get cherry juice concentrate at Sprouts and WF. Interesting idea about the juice concentrate; I’ll have to look into that! ---
**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:** [August 18, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/50 "2020-08-18T01:53:59Z")
I use 1-2 full squirts from an eyedropper per 12 oz can. I don’t think I’m going back to the pre-formulated stuff even when it’s available. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2020, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/51 "2020-08-18T22:59:41Z")
So I guess I should try to acquire an eyedropper (and the concentrate). From the sound of things we may not see the old range of varieties (of soda) back in stores for quite a while. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2020, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221/52 "2020-08-18T23:51:49Z")
Went to two stores today; both had plenty of Coke Zero. The standard version, that is – didn’t know the stuff came in flavours. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-coke-zero-or-pepsi-zero-sugar-available-where-you-live-right-now/916221.md?page=2)