# Why Do People Drink Coke If They Prefer Pepsi? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 19, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122 "2003-11-19T16:06:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/21 "2003-11-20T00:12:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WonTon Sean \* > I know that in the South (where I live) Dr. Pepper is much more prevalent than either Coca-Cola or Pepsi, but I would like to know how it stacks up nationwide. šŸ˜• Um, where in the South do you live? ---
**Author:** ![initech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/439d5e/32.png) [@initech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/initech)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/22 "2003-11-20T08:03:48Z")
Some of this has been said already: 1. Branding. Coke is a strong brand with a powerful emotional connection to a lot of consumers. The Coca-Cola Company has done a very good job of shepherding this image over the years. Even the New Coke fiasco was accidental genius: by taking Coke away, the company increased demand and created a protective impulse toward the product. Of course, they had no idea what they were doing, but stillā€¦ 2. Sweetness. Pepsi tastes better in smaller doses, Coke better in larger doses. Also, Coke makes a bad chaser after Pepsi, while Pepsi isnā€™t bad after a swig of Coke. 3. Branding. Coke, as far as I can tell, is the official sponsor of the Olympics, coldness, refreshment, Santa Claus and America. Pepsi pretty much just has NASCAR. ---
**Author:** ![WonTon\_Sean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WonTon\_Sean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WonTon_Sean)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/23 "2003-11-20T13:26:11Z")
Well, **Achernar** , I live in Arkansas but make frequent trips to Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia. Iā€™m pretty sure that Dr. Pepper is mostly a regional oddity and canā€™t measure up to the Coca-Cola and Pepsi giants, however, I am still curious about its rank in the great cola pantheon. Does anyone work for Coca-Cola or Pepsi that can give us some stats? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/24 "2003-11-20T15:01:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Iā€™m pretty sure that Dr. Pepper is mostly a regional oddity I have never lived in the south and Dr. Pepper has been available pretty much everywhere all my life. I know plenty of people who drink it, including my wife. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/25 "2003-11-20T15:19:54Z")
I live in Atlanta. Whatā€™s Pepsi? šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![aerodave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f08c70/32.png) [@aerodave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aerodave)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/26 "2003-11-20T15:39:39Z")
I _can_ tell the difference between coke and Pepsi, and I also find Pepsi to be disgusting. Coca-Cola tastes like cola is supposed to taste. At restaurants, I ask if itā€™s Coke or Pepsi. If itā€™s Pepsi, I order a Mountain Dew. However, if I have to drink Diet, Diet Pepsi is way better than Diet Coke. Strangeā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/27 "2003-11-20T16:22:41Z")
Coke tastes good as a mixer in drinks. Pepsi is what I drink. I wouldnā€™t drink staight Coca-Cola if you handed it to me. Iā€™ll pay for Pepsi first. ---
**Author:** ![JRR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecccb3/32.png) [@JRR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRR)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/28 "2003-11-20T20:30:31Z")
On a slightly related topic, Iā€™ve never understood why Coke and Pepsi spend _so much_ money advertising their drinks. I donā€™t think thereā€™s a single person in the world who hasnā€™t heard of them, and I canā€™t imagine anyone changing their brand because a dancing polar bear told them to. Sure, if they have a new flavor or whatnot they need to promote it, but 99% of their commercials boil down to ā€œCoke: It Still Exists.ā€ Personally, I drink Pepsi because thatā€™s what I drank as a kid, and thatā€™s what Iā€™m used to (Coke seems to have a harsh, battery-acid taste, especially in cans). ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/29 "2003-11-20T21:11:32Z")
I remember a special about soda pop history on cable from about a year ago. It talked about the history of Pepsi and the fact that it used to be considered a ā€œBack room drinkā€, meaning that while you might serve your company the prestigious Coca-Cola, youā€™d sneak off to the kitchen and enjoy the more favorable Pepsi and was marketed as such. Given that history that Coca-Cola would be branded as the more elite might give reason why itā€™s sales are higher regardless of taste preference. ā€”slight hijackā€” A couple months ago at work, the vending switched from coke and pepsi machines living side by side in harmony to all of the coke machines gone and replaced with pepsi machines. Frankly, it was a bit creepy. Youā€™d see now 2 or even 3 Pepsi machines staring back at you. Apparently, the vending is owned by the same people that run the cafeteria, Aramark (insert disgruntled vulgarity here). Aramark said after the fact that Minnesota drinks Pepsi two to one over Coke. I looked but never did find any numbers to corroborate their claim. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/30 "2003-11-20T21:12:35Z")
I donā€™t care _much_. I intentionally alternate between the two to stave off boredom. I do this with most foodstuffs and drinks. Perhaps many persons are like me, and this answers the OP? ---
**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:** [November 21, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/31 "2003-11-21T00:46:09Z")
> [@](#): > > On a slightly related topic, Iā€™ve never understood why Coke and Pepsi spend so much money advertising their drinks. New consumers. While itā€™s true that few people will change their preference, every person has to form that preference in the first place, at some point. As a kid, I started drinking Pepsi preferentially because I thought that the Coke commercials were too arrogant. Nowadays, I choose Pepsi because I prefer the taste, but that preference is probably influenced by all the times that I drank Pepsi as a child. So directly and indirectly, I chose Pepsi because of the advertising. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/32 "2003-11-21T01:02:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tremorviolet \* > \*\* > > There are theories that the entire New Coke fiasco was a carefully coordinated method to 1) gain an assload of free publicity and 2) a sneaky way to subtly change the formula of classic Coke to incorporate the cheaper corn syrup in place of cane sugar. Hmmm, when I looked for an article on this, I instead found a [Snopes article](http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/newcoke.asp) which attempts to disprove it. \*\* I doubt it. Coke suffered a tremendous black eye in the New Joke fiasco. The president of Pepsi even published a book celebrating their victory. As it turned out, when Coke Classic returned, Code got more shelf space in stores, and thus actually came out ahead. As for me, Iā€™m with audilover - Coke or Mountain Dew. And I donā€™t do diet. ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/33 "2003-11-21T02:47:13Z")
I donā€™t give a damn about the way they advertise, who pitches the products, or how the drinks are packaged. Iā€™m a coke drinker, and always have been. Pepsi is TOO SWEET!!! I even thought it was too sweet when I was ten, now thatā€™s saying something! Sickeningly sweet, actually. I canā€™t stomach more than a teeny bit. If thereā€™s pepsi instead of coke at the restaurant, Iā€™ll drink water or root beer. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122/34 "2003-11-21T03:35:22Z")
Also without seeing the actual advertising material it could all be a con. Back in the 70s Pepsi came up with the brilliant: ā€œIn recent taste tests 2 out of 3 Coke drinkers preferred the taste of Pepsi.ā€ Some people thought this meant that 2 out of 3 Coke drinkers prefer Pepsi but of course it didnā€™t. How does this work? Go out and ask people if they drink Coke. Collect 999 Coke drinkers. Split them into groups of 3. Give each of the 3 a blind Pepsi and Coke taste test. Now if 2 of the 3 sat they prefer Pepsi, and this happens in 2 of the 333 tests you can honestly make the statement above even if **every** other test ends up 3-0 to Coke. Pretty clever hey. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-drink-coke-if-they-prefer-pepsi/214122.md?page=1)