# soft drinks 'n social status **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 23, 2000, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953 "2000-10-23T06:49:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Feynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@Feynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feynn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/21 "2000-10-24T07:26:47Z")
I found that the taste of Coca Cola varies by region and I think this is due to the different sugars used. When I was growing up Coke was the drink of choice. I didn’t know any people who drank Pepsi. I see Pepsi being the drink of many younger people and perhaps this is due to their marketing strategy aimed towards a certain younger demographic group. I actually had a kid tell me that Coke was for old people like me. I’m 34… no wait… it’s 1:31 here so I have officially made it to 35… I’m ancient. WOO HOO! ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/22 "2000-10-24T13:16:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > **Sadly, I don’t believe any major soft drink in America is made with real cane sugar anymore.** The [Dr Pepper Bottling Company in Dublin, Texas](http://www.drpep.com/) still uses Imperial Pure Cane Sugar in their formula. People drive from all over North Texas just to buy their Dr Pepper from there. You can [order it online](http://www.dublindrpepper.com/Store/store1.htm), but it ain’t cheap. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/23 "2000-10-24T13:53:50Z")
I’m from Ohio, we were traveling and stopped at a gas station in Pennsylvania. I asked if they had a pop machine and they looked at me like I was insane. I said You know coke Pepsi, 7-up??? they went Ahhh soda. For me, my cold carbonated beverage is Coke. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/24 "2000-10-24T14:52:21Z")
You can get Kosher Coke around Passover. It’s made with cane sugar, and there’s definitely a difference. My friends won’t buy it, though. They don’t believe that it has sugar in it (the labels still say corn syrup) and think they’re getting ripped off for nothing. I try to convince them, but it’s no use. ---
**Author:** ![egkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/db5fbb/32.png) [@egkelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/egkelly)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/25 "2000-10-24T17:02:12Z")
Years ago my Dad had a friend who owned a small bottling plant. He made his own brands of soda for local distribution-most of these operations have died out over the last 20 years. I recall him telling my Dad that it cost him less than 1/10th the retail price of coke, to bottle his own brand-which tasted pretty good, by the way. At any rate, he made a wide variety of stuff-types that you never hear of today (birch beer, sasarparlla, root beer) and some pretty wierd fruit-based sodas-which seemed to be available in the most garish colors. Of course, he could not afford to advertise, so his business steadily dropped. On another note, those of you from new England might remember a local soda called “moxie”. This is without a doubt, the most vile tasting swill ever sold in can or bottle! It is still made (in Maine) for a steadily dwindling clientele. trust me-it is really horriblw! ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/26 "2000-10-24T20:50:49Z")
Moxie – It’s Wicked Good! ™ No really, its just _really_ strong root beer, no more repellant in its own way than [seeking cover from native Detroiters] Vernors. Oak and ginger are NOT two great tastes that go great together. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/27 "2000-10-24T21:02:53Z")
Where does I.B.C. Root Beer stand in the structure? I would think that anyone who drinks IBC is incredibly cool, and I would gravitate to them. ---
**Author:** ![RonA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@RonA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RonA)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/28 "2000-10-24T21:21:47Z")
Please forgive my ignorance, but what’s the connection between Coke and Passover? ---
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/29 "2000-10-24T21:37:31Z")
Mr. Cynical, I drink IBC, when I can get it (usually only in restaurants). It would be at the very top of my (above) list, with the other good root beers. Do you feel my gravitational pull yet? ---
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/30 "2000-10-24T21:37:46Z")
I live in Dallas, Texas, a lot of people will laugh if you call a soda ‘pop’ (which is common only 230 miles north of here, in the Tulsa, OK area). People either call it soda or a coke. My friend says that Pepsi is what white trash drink, and RC Cola is what black people drink. She’s something of a classist. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/31 "2000-10-24T21:37:55Z")
I’d have to say that I am low class. I buy whatever is the cheapest that day at the grocery store. Coke, Pepsi, Store-Brand, whatever. Most of is just mixer for cheap bourbon, anyways. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2000, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/32 "2000-10-24T22:36:25Z")
Good list, Suo Na. I’ve added my own to it in bold. \*Original list posted by Suo Na \* **Henry Weinhart’s or IBC root beer** A&W root beer **Mug root beer** Dad’s **orange Crush** glass bottle of Coke plastic bottle of Coke can of Coke **Squirt** **Sprite** bottle of urine **Minute Maid orange** **Once you are this far down the list you should just buy the local generic root beer (mmmmmm…Shasta!)** Barq’s diet Coke **7-up** Pepsi **bottle of urine with traces of feces** **Surge** **Storm** diet Pepsi **New York Seltzer or any other flavored water** **Fresca** ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/33 "2000-10-25T02:08:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RonA \* > Please forgive my ignorance, but what’s the connection between Coke and Passover? This page explains how Coke was finally certified kosher in 1935. [http://www.ajhs.org/Chapter1.htm](http://www.ajhs.org/Chapter1.htm) > [@](#): > > …the formula for Coke included traces of alcohol that were a by-product of grain kernels. Since anything derived from grains is chametz, or forbidden at Passover, Coca-Cola could not be certified kosher for use at Passover… > > Coke’s chemists experimented and found that, during the Passover season, they could substitute sweeteners produced from beet sugar and cane sugar for grain-based ones without compromising Coke’s taste, and so they agreed to start manufacturing Coke with the new sugars several weeks prior to Passover each year. Due to the price of sugar, corn syrup (from grain kernels) is now used again. Therefore a special version of Coke is needed for Passover. ---
**Author:** ![Renton\_lvr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7feea3/32.png) [@Renton\_lvr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renton_lvr)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/34 "2000-10-25T02:14:55Z")
I live in Quebec and to this day some English Quebecers still refer to French Quebecers as Pepsis in a derogatory way. This was due to the fact that, as has been mentioned, Pepsi used to be cheaper than Coke and since the English were generally rich and the French were generally poor…well the French could only afford to buy the “welfare” soft drink. ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/35 "2000-10-25T04:29:41Z")
Hmmm, my list… H.Weinharts or IBC Rootbeer Stewarts Root Beer Ginger Beer Jones Soda Root Beer Coke Schweppes Ginger Ale Jones Soda Vanilla Soda Jones Soda Wild Apple Canada Dry Ginger Ale Dr. Pepper A&W Root Beer Seven Up Sprite Pepsi Mountain Dew Depending on mood, this list adjusts of course. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/36 "2000-10-25T04:49:53Z")
Mt. Dew- Ice cold. literally, best with a few ice crystals formed up in it… Mt. Dew- cold. Pepsi- cold Mt. Dew-room temperature -after this point, temps no longer matter- Dr. Pepper Coke Orange Slice Sprite Root Beer Ginger Ale Cream Soda obligitory bottle of urine cleaning fluid water… don’t know why, really can’t stand water. And I grew up in Montana, mostly, and we would either say Coke, or Soda… go fig. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/37 "2000-10-25T05:06:40Z")
WOO!! I’m incredibly cool. Neat. (See also, MrC’s post.) Hey, Suo Na, a bottle of urine before Barq’s? :eek: I can’t really make a list of favorites in order, because it varies way too much. The list would include Mountain Dew, Coke, orange soda of just about any kind, root beer of just about any kind, Dr. Pepper, grape soda of just about any kind… That’s about it, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/38 "2000-10-25T20:04:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silver Fire \* > \*\* > Hey, Suo Na, a bottle of urine before Barq’s? :eek: > \*\* Barq’s bites. I can’t believe Coca Cola makes such a nasty product. It has no root beer flavour, and burns my mouth. It seems to be liquid sugar with battery acid added. Oh, and **obfusciatrist** , I completely forgot about Mug root beer. Of course it belongs with the good ones! ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/39 "2000-10-25T20:33:12Z")
Yeah, but a bottle of piss?? ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Don](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e95f7d/32.png) [@Engineer\_Don](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Don)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2000, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953/40 "2000-10-25T21:58:15Z")
I used to work as a box-boy at a supermarket near a Marine base (USMCAS-El Toro), and I learned that Marines drink Mountain Dew. Almost no one else touched the stuff, but the marines couldn’t get enough of it for some reason. All ranks, all races, all ages of marines seemed to always be buying Mountain Dew. Why? Is it some weird ritual? Marines are cool, but what is the deal with the Dew? I can’t shake the idea that it is somehow related to Texas accents and short hair cuts. The current Dew commericals seem to be trying expand their market. They just confuse me for the most part, since I see these young guys skateboarding or whatever, and I immediately think that they are just goofing off until it’s time to enlist. My list is: Diet Coke Diet anything but Pepsi Water Urinated Diet Coke in a bottle (hopefully filtered and flash-pasturized) Diet Pepsi Pepsi One Pepsi is too lemony. Coke is nicely orangy. Diet coke with a slice of orange is great. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/soft-drinks-n-social-status/37953.md?page=3)