# What do you do when you can't get your cola of choice? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** soda-softdrinks\ **Created:** [March 16, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838 "2014-03-16T15:27:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/41 "2014-03-16T23:33:41Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > The tears of the damned, thanks Too much sodium, or I’d join you for a glass. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/42 "2014-03-16T23:39:18Z")
I went for option 2, but in reality, my take is this: Coke and Pepsi taste quite different, but they’re both very good. If I ask for a Coke and am offered a Pepsi, I’ll gladly take a Pepsi. But if I’m offered a supermarket brand Cola or a Sam’s Choice cola, I’ll turn it down politely and ask for something else. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/43 "2014-03-17T00:29:45Z")
I’m somewhere in between the first and second options, though I suppose I’m closer to the first. I prefer Pepsi over Coke and RC (on the rare occasions I can get it) over either, but they’re all mostly just sugar water. When I’m in a restaurant, I’ll just order “a cola”, since it’s quite rare that a restaurant will have multiple cola choices. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/44 "2014-03-17T00:37:14Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I’ll drink Coca-Cola, Pepsi. Used to drink RC cola but they seem to have switched to a more berry or fruit flavor, at least in the Chicagoland area. It’s not bad but it’s not a cola. > > (Currently drinking Sodastream cola at home but if it wasn’t a gift, I wouldn’t bother. Too much trouble and very little cost savings.) I have also noticed that RC is taking over in many restaurant in Chicagoland burbs. I was in LaGrange with my SO last summer and I asked for a Coke and the server said that they had RC instead. It’s not my favorite, but I drank it. Myself, I usually drink Sprite or Sierra Mist. I rarely encounter 7-Up from dispensers, so that’s never an issue. Between Coke and Pepsi, I’d prefer Coke;but Pepsi will do in a pinch. Also,to me, in the bottle if Pepsi _ **ice cold** _ it does seem better tasting than Coke does. ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/45 "2014-03-17T03:14:59Z")
My beverage of choice: Caffeine Free Diet Dr. Pepper. Problems to deal with. 1. Can’t have Citric Acid. 2. Too much caffeine, can’t sleep 3. Trying to decrease calorie intake. Citric Acid: no Pepsi products, no lemon-lime, no Diet Coke, never can remember which root beer products have citric acid and which don’t Caffeine: rare to see caffeine free soft drinks offered Calories: 150 calories in 12 ounces-I want those calories elsewhere, and who serves 12 ounce drinks? So: Water, no lemon. Rarely: Dr. Pepper. Coke if I really want a fizzy drink and no Dr. Pepper available. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/46 "2014-03-17T03:47:23Z")
Sweet tea, y’all. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/47 "2014-03-17T03:50:13Z")
I just can’t get myself to work up a good outrage over friggin’ fizzy drinks. I’ll just drink whatever they have, and that’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/48 "2014-03-17T07:34:49Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > The tears of the damned, thanks Have you tried the blood of your enemies? ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/49 "2014-03-17T09:14:10Z")
I’m a Diet Coke drinker. Not a fan of Coke Zero but I can drink it. Pepsi Max, not at all. Mostly I’ll just order a sparkling mineral water if there’s no Diet Coke available. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/50 "2014-03-17T09:30:33Z")
I sighed. My drink of choice is Coke Zero which I vastly prefer to any diet version, but it’s not usually available so I go with Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi for the sugar-free caffeine. My order of preference is: Coke Zero Pepsi Max Diet Coke Diet Pepsi The only time I wouldn’t have a Coke/Pepsi would be if there weren’t any diet options available. Then I’d have water. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/51 "2014-03-17T09:59:37Z")
I never buy it except in cases of cans from the supermarket because I guess I never drink it with food. I buy whatever is on sale out of Diet Coke and Pepsi Max. One or the other always is. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/52 "2014-03-17T10:58:41Z")
The only time it matters for me is a breakfast - I avoid caffeine from lunchtime on and drink water. But I do like to start my day with a diet Coke, and most of our favorite breakfast places carry it. One local diner that we like is exclusively Pepsi, so I’ll have tea or water if we breakfast there. Back when Tab was the only diet cola available, I drank that. When Diet Pepsi showed up, I switched. Then there was Diet Coke, and I switched again. I really don’t like anything else in the cola family. And, frankly, I should just stick with water, but I do like the early morning caffeine jolt. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/53 "2014-03-17T12:13:11Z")
I am not fussy, as long as it’s the diet version then I’m happy. To be honest, I can’t tell the difference between coke and pepsi anyway so it matters not a jot. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/54 "2014-03-17T12:44:13Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > But I do like to start my day with a diet Coke, and most of our favorite breakfast places carry it. One local diner that we like is exclusively Pepsi, so I’ll have tea or water if we breakfast there. My son used to make a game of that. I don’t know which places are which but some fast food places are 100% Coke and some 100% Pepsi. So he would ask for the opposite, “And a large Pepsi.” “We only have Coke.” “OK that will be fine.” Or vice versa. It was just some habitual rebellion. He was always unfailingly polite but never, ever asked for the right drink. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/55 "2014-03-17T13:37:51Z")
I prefer Diet Coke, but will drink Diet Pepsi if absolutely forced to. DP is definitely a step down from DC. But honestly, since any bar worth its salt will have your favorite whiskey or gin or rum in stock, why can’t they offer all the major soft drink brands? I realize that Pepsi and Coke will both offer better deals if you don’t stock their competitor, but really the cost of soft drinks is pitifully small so eat a little profit and give us a choice. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/56 "2014-03-17T14:27:02Z")
I can count on one hand the number of times I have consumed cola in the last five years. I rarely drink soda, but when I do, it is root beer, ginger ale or orange soda. But faced with the choice in the OP, I would just pick something else non-partisan. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/57 "2014-03-17T14:40:03Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > I know which very few local establishments offer Diet Dr Pepper, and I order that. Elsewhere, I order Diet Coke and take what I get. Yep, Diet Dr. Pepper if they have it, diet whatever cola they have otherwise. What bugs me is that a restaurant will have half a dozen choices of regular pop but only one diet - usually cola, no diet Sprite, Dr Pepper, root beer, etc. That’s one thing I like about going to Five Guys - they have those fancy Coke machines where you can get just about whatever you want (like diet root beer with vanilla… mmm…) ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/58 "2014-03-17T15:03:49Z")
Diet drinks are the devil’s brew - really - they are NOT good for you. Not only that, but the taste of them is terrible to my palate. That said, if I’m in the mood for it I will ask for a clear, non-diet soda such as 7up, Sprite, or Sierra Mist. Most times I’m going to ask for water with lemon, though. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/59 "2014-03-17T15:07:10Z")
If they don’t have Orangina I always throw myself on the floor and have to be dragged out of the restaurant screaming. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838/60 "2014-03-17T15:12:03Z")
Diet Pepsi man here, and I’ll usually just take a Diet Coke. That said, if the store is having an unbelievable sale on Diet Coke, I’ll let it pass. I have a great deal of brand loyalty, but the difference doesn’t seem to be that big out of the fountain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-when-you-cant-get-your-cola-of-choice/683838.md?page=4)