# "Sorry we don't have Coke is Pepsi fine?" "Actually no it's not..." Do you refuse other brand colas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [May 14, 2022, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398 "2022-05-14T06:59:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/101 "2022-05-17T22:08:30Z")
What does it say that humans spend millions, if not billions on the temporary rental of the genitalia of another human? Soda Jerk is only the _Second_ Oldest Profession. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/102 "2022-05-17T22:08:54Z")
I suppose it’s possible, but all those descriptions I could see with the Starlight flavor I tried. They all describe the same range of flavors to me. I also had a second experience sipping from my daughter’s bottle on a different occasion, and it was the same as my first impression, although it’s possible by luck I got the same one. To me, your description of cotton candy is not off from my experience of cream soda. ETA: I found a text to my brother from when I tried it, and I said this: “Hard to say what it tastes like, but I definitely get cookies/graham cracker and maybe cream soda. Others say cotton candy and caramel, and I could see that too. Aftertaste sticks a bit too long.” ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/103 "2022-05-17T22:19:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Soda Jerk is only the _Second_ Oldest Profession. Either way you’re paying for a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/104 "2022-05-18T14:46:56Z")
My preference is Coke, but if there’s any reason at all to buy Pepsi instead - a dime cheaper would do it for me - I’ll be fine taking the Pepsi. A number of years ago, my family was waiting on line outside the World of Coke in Atlanta on a hot July day. An employee walked up and down the line offering to sell cold sodas to the sweating crowd. My wise-ass son asked if he could have a Pepsi. The vendor, no doubt anticipating such jokes, responded, “What’s that?” ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/105 "2022-05-18T16:20:03Z")
RC Cola used to come in a larger bottle and cost the same as Coke. The strategy worked and RC Cola was popular. Coke eventually went bigger. I still like bottled RC Cola. It’s not as highly carbonated as Coke. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/106 "2022-05-18T17:19:08Z")
Yeah, I remember 3L RCs in the 80s and perhaps early 90s. Don’t ever remember Coke getting to that size, though. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/107 "2022-05-18T17:21:11Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Don’t ever remember Coke getting to that size, though. Absolutely. > **[Coca-Cola Soda Pop, 3 Liter Bottle - Walmart.com](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coca-Cola-Original-Soda-Pop-3-Liter-Bottle/16777273)** > > Arrives by Fri, Jan 12 Buy Coca-Cola Soda Pop, 3 Liter Bottle at Walmart.com ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/108 "2022-05-18T17:22:22Z")
Huh. Never seen any 3L bottle since the early 90s. Looking in the wrong places apparently. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/109 "2022-05-18T17:23:24Z")
Giant bottle of unhealthy stuff, you can count on Wal-Mart. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/110 "2022-05-18T17:24:23Z")
Yeah, the regular groceries around me don’t have it. I’ve shopped at Walmart, but probably haven’t been through the soda aisle. ETA: must be regional. Not available at the six nearest Walmarts. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2022, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/111 "2022-05-20T03:23:00Z")
I prefer Coke Zero or Coke No Sugar to Diet Coke, and don’t much like Pepsi and Diet Pepsi. I’ll only drink Diet Pepsi if I have no choice. That usually only happens when I am in the US, because here in the southern hemisphere we get **Pepsi Max** - a no-sugar Pepsi drink with quite a different flavour to Pepsi. I do like Pepsi Max. Even venues that only stock Pepsi products will have it. And with Pepsi Max comes Raspberry Pepsi Max, although that is not usually available on tap. In fact, Sodastream appears to have stopped producing their own diet cola, and now only provide Pepsi cola concentrates. So my go-to drink at home is 50/50 Pepsi Max and diet Raspberry. If I could get Coke Zero flavour for my Sodastream I would use that, but I have not found a suitable local supplier. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2022, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/112 "2022-05-20T05:44:33Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > That usually only happens when I am in the US, because here in the southern hemisphere we get **Pepsi Max** - a no-sugar Pepsi drink with quite a different flavour to Pepsi. The US has had Pepsi Max for many years. It used to be my wife’s favorite and I’d buy cases for her at the store. It rebranded to Pepsi Zero Sugar (about the same time Coke Zero became Coke Zero Sugar) but all that changed was the name. The next time you’re in the US, just get Pepsi Zero Sugar. [![](https://www.instacart.com/image-server/672x672/filters:fill(FFF,true):format(webp)/www.instacart.com/assets/domains/product-image/file/large_6bf13efd-6ed4-472c-b1f1-718618fd24a3.png) ](https://www.instacart.com/image-server/672x672/filters:fill(FFF,true):format(webp)/www.instacart.com/assets/domains/product-image/file/large_6bf13efd-6ed4-472c-b1f1-718618fd24a3.png) My wife still likes it. And she can’t stand regular Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2022, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/113 "2022-05-20T05:58:17Z")
Wikipedia suggests that the formulations are different: > **Pepsi Max** (also known as **Pepsi Black** in some countries) is a low-[calorie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calorie), [sugar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar)-free [cola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cola), marketed by [PepsiCo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PepsiCo) as an alternative to [Pepsi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsi) and [Diet Pepsi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_Pepsi). It is primarily sold in European and Asian markets. > A drink with the same name but different formulation (containing ginseng and higher quantities of caffeine) was sold in the United States until it was renamed “[Pepsi Zero Sugar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsi_Zero_Sugar)” in late 2016. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2022, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/114 "2022-05-20T12:56:31Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > Wikipedia suggests that the formulations are different: Sure, but you might still like it even if it’s not identical. Just saying you’re not stuck with Diet Pepsi. ---
**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 8, 2022, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/115 "2022-06-08T23:41:19Z")
My deal is 7 Up vs. Sprite. I’ve ordered 7 Up at a restaurant and when it’s plopped down on the table I can clearly (!) see that it’s Sprite and I point this out. The server is somehow amazed I can tell just by looking and was trying to pull a fast one. Yes, I will send it back. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/116 "2022-06-09T15:05:41Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > My deal is 7 Up vs. Sprite. I agree i this case. There’s clearly a taste difference – Sprite is sweeter – and I much prefer 7 Up. I didn’t realize there was a visual difference, too. What is it? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/117 "2022-06-09T16:32:42Z")
With Sprite, the 7 is down. ---
**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 9, 2022, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/118 "2022-06-09T23:12:41Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > > [@ftg](#): > > > > My deal is 7 Up vs. Sprite. > > I agree i this case. There’s clearly a taste difference – Sprite is sweeter – and I much prefer 7 Up. > > I didn’t realize there was a visual difference, too. What is it? With a fountain pour of Sprite, you can see the swirls of syrup much more. Since it is basically more syrupy. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/119 "2022-06-11T03:22:24Z")
I clicked on the link, _ **Coca-Cola Starlight Zero Sugar** _ _Space flavored Coca-Cola taste with a subtle cooling sensation_ to which I can only reply, ‘Space flavored? What the fuck drugs are you guys on exactly?’ ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2022, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398/120 "2022-06-11T04:13:05Z")
I realized when I was in my teens that I preferred Coke over Pepsi. When I met my future husband, I discovered he preferred Coke as well. How nice! We had something in common! Over the years, Mr VOW has become almost militant in his quest for Coke. When we go to a restaurant, he always asks: “Do you have Coke or Pepsi?” If they only serve Pepsi, he says, “I’ll have iced tea.” When we lived in Germany, he had to see where the Coke was bottled. If it was from Essen, he passed it up. His Coke had to be bottled in Giessen. He said the Coke from Essen “had too much lemon in it.” The “new” Coke came out while we were in Germany. It took awhile to become available where we were. One sip, and both of us pronounced it “terrible!” I told people, “If I want to drink an RC, I’ll drink an RC!” Coke, please! ~VOW [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sorry-we-dont-have-coke-is-pepsi-fine-actually-no-its-not-do-you-refuse-other-brand-colas/964398.md?page=7)