# Local burger place claims they serve Coca-Cola but they don't, do I have a legal case against them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2025, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386 "2025-03-31T05:23:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/161 "2025-04-01T23:13:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Oh it absolutely is a Chicago thing. I grew up in Southern California in the 1960s and RC held its own with Coke and Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/162 "2025-04-01T23:15:31Z")
I went to a local Middle Eastern restaurant + grocery to get some sweets for an Eid celebration at work (Diversity is still being celebrated for now). While waiting for my order to be boxed up, I noticed that the cooler had RC/7-Up/Dr Pepper and a bunch of other brands I’d never heard of. But the sign on the top of cooler was Pepsi. My curiosity piqued, no doubt because of this thread, and I asked the guy why they had RC etc. He said because both Coke and Pepsi support Israel. I was skeptical, and asked two of my Muslim classmates. Apparently this really is a thing. How widespread I don’t know but there was apparently a campaign to boycott both Coke and Pepsi. Forgive the digression. I’m sure the OP’s incident is not related. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/163 "2025-04-01T23:18:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Oh it absolutely is a Chicago thing. Growing up, an order of pizza from the local pizzeria would almost always come with one free liter of RC. I very much associate RC with at least my neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhoods here in the South/Southwest Side of Chicago. I found some Reddit threads which suggest that, as far back as the '60s, the Chicago RC bottler/distributor specifically focused on getting distribution in local pizzerias; I also suspect that they focused on the mom-and-pop hot dog places, as I still see it in those, too. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2025, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/164 "2025-04-01T23:22:09Z")
For a long time it was Coke in Israel and Pepsi in the Arab world exclusively. This has apparently changed. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/165 "2025-04-02T00:05:06Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I found some Reddit threads which suggest that, as far back as the '60s, the Chicago RC bottler/distributor specifically focused on getting distribution in local pizzerias; I also suspect that they focused on the mom-and-pop hot dog places, as I still see it in those, too. Growing up on Long Island in the 70s, more pizza places than not served RC. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/166 "2025-04-04T21:42:57Z")
2 posts were merged into an existing topic: [65 Mustang Trock Posts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/65-mustang-trock-posts/1016649/28) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/167 "2025-04-02T00:16:01Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1016651/163): > > Who makes generic syrup for fountain soda machines? A company called Coolbreeze, for one. Here’s their five-gallon bag-in-box syrups for cola, diet cola, and lemon-lime. > **[CoolBreeze® 5 Gal Bag-In-Box](https://shop.coolbreezebeverages.com/collections/coolbreeze%C2%AE-5-gal-bag-in-box)** > > At CoolBreeze® we strive to create the ultimate frozen drink experience, and in doing so make it our priority to source the finest and freshest ingredients mother nature has to offer. Our special combination of these ingredients provides a... Here’s another company, Narvon, which makes an even bigger range of generic soda flavors, in syrup form, for restaurants. > **[Wholesale Soda & Energy Drinks From Narvon](https://www.narvonbeverage.com/beverage-flavors/soda-energy-drinks/)** > > Save with Narvon concentrates and bag in box syrups. Browse energy drinks and soda flavors ranging from cola and root beer to fruit punch and grape. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/168 "2025-04-02T00:39:27Z")
> [@On another topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1016651/163): > > Maybe this has been addressed and I missed it. > > Who makes generic syrup for fountain soda machines? > … > But I’ve never seen “generic” soda used in a fountain machine. Me neither, and I wondered about that too. Thanks for asking. (And thanks, @kenobi_65, for answering.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/169 "2025-04-02T02:35:25Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > Do you live in the part of the country where the word “coke” is commonly used to mean “soft drink?” Where people commonly say confusing things like get me a “lemon lime coke” when they mean a “clear lemon lime fizzy soda” like Mountain Dew or 7-Up or whatever else still exists in that genre? If you do live in that part of the country, those plain words just mean “we have sugary soda and diet soda”. > > Indeed, down South—think Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida—“Coke” is shorthand for any kind of soft drink. > > “You want a Coke?” > “Yeah.” > “What kind?” > “Dr. Pepper.” > > I hear this type of banter all the time in the South. Not quite. The dialog is: > “You want a ~~C~~ **c** oke?” > “Yeah.” > “What kind?” > “Dr. Pepper.” Lowercase “coke” is the generic regional term for “soda”. Like “kleenex” for “tissue” or “xerox” for “photocopy”. Uppercase “Coke®” is the trademark. Like Kleenex® and Xerox®. Of course that casing difference is _very_ hard to hear in spoken dialog. 🙂 But it is significant in written use, like on menu boards and such. Especially if accompanied by the Coca Cola trade dress. Likewise especially not if in lower case and no trade dress. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2025, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/170 "2025-04-02T15:16:24Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I grew up in Southern California in the 1960s and RC held its own with Coke and Pepsi. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > “You want a ~~C~~ **c** oke?” > “Yeah.” > “What kind?” > “Dr. Pepper.” I grew up in Dallas in the 60s, same for both. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/172 "2025-04-02T17:06:50Z")
RC is a famous southern thing. RC cola and a Moonpie is a lunch special. You can buy generic soda syrup for the fountain drinks at Sams club. My Daddy always said bars use generic cola for their mixers. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/173 "2025-04-03T16:48:50Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > RC is a famous southern thing. RC cola and a Moonpie is a lunch special. Southern comedian Brother Dave Gardner used to talk about this combo pronouncing it “Are oh see ko cola” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2025, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386/174 "2025-04-03T20:45:17Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > My Daddy always said bars use generic cola for their mixers. IME if you’re ordering a mixed drink with cola, they use generic liquor, as well. > [@Tibby](#): > > Indeed, down South—think Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida—“Coke” is shorthand for any kind of soft drink. Every Southerner knows “coke” is a generic soft drink. The brand is “Co-cola.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/local-burger-place-claims-they-serve-coca-cola-but-they-dont-do-i-have-a-legal-case-against-them/1016386.md?page=8)