Muhammed Ali Week 6: The Story of Soda


Here's how these 8 soft drink brands have changed since we were kids


Soda is one of the biggest beverages in much of the western world, particularly in America. It is estimated that the average American drinks 44 gallons of soda per year, as insane as that number may seem. It’s a drink many of us take for granted and accept as a part of life. But how did these fizzy, flavored drinks come about in the first place?


In 1767, the first ever man-made carbonated water was made by a man named Dr. Joseph Priestley. This was initially thought to have the ability to cure sickness, so early sodas were actually sold in pharmacies. The first modern soda that changed the beverage from a medicinal drink to a recreational drink was root beer in 1876, over one hundred years later. The creation of root beer made people realize that it was possible to make carbonated drinks as an alternative for water and other normalized drinks like tea and lemonade. 


Dr Pepper was first made in 1885 and is widely considered the first modern soda. Coca-Cola followed suit a year later and came out with their first glass in downtown Atlanta. Their original recipe for Coke did include a small amount of cocaine in each of their servings because at the time, cocaine was legal and was commonly used in medicinal drugs. The inclusion of cocaine made the drink even more addictive and helped popularize soda in the late 1800s and early 1900s America. When the law changed criminalizing cocaine use, the recipe was modified and no longer included the drug. However, the consumer base for not only Coke, but for soda in general was already so high that the removal of the addictive drug hardly dented their sales.


With rates of soda consumption in America rising exponentially, the first vending machines were created to make soda easier to access in 1902. In the 1950s, soda companies switched to the soda can and saw sales climb even higher.


Soda has always been popular for a very long time in the United States. It’s a tasty beverage alternative that Americans choose to spend $65 billion on every single year. Soda has been an extremely important drink in America, and it will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

 Americans Drink 44 Gallons of Soda Per Year - The Atlantic.

 The Buzz on Soda History.

Comments

  1. Allison November 7, 2023 at 3:06 PM

    Hi Muhammed! This topic you chose for this week is interesting! I never really thought of it but soda really is an important aspect of American society. I was shocked to find out that the average American drinks 44 gallons of soda because that’s quite a lot. That’s like a can of soda per day. I’ve always found these sorts of statistics interesting because it truly puts the importance of certain elements of everyday life into perspective. I was also surprised by the fact that Coke actually contained cocaine back in the day. This makes me no longer think of the name of the beverage as a coincidence to the drug and this was honestly rather shocking. It’s also interesting to see the history of soda and how they were only sold in cans later on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Patrick ChouNovember 8, 2023 at 9:42 PM

    Hi Muhammed! This is such an interesting topic, I myself am an avid drinker of both carbonated and sweet sodas. I don't feel that surprised by the consumption rate of 44 gallons a year as it is a very popular drink. I always feel like these statistics seem like a lot until you think about it and it comes into perspective considering the "American" demographic. I wish you talked a bit more about its role on the role it plays in the current national stage and how things have changed from the past. For me I link soda as a refreshing treat, and I find it kind of shocking and wonder why people would drink it every day. I wish you dug into why people drink and enjoy it so much.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aarya Patil Week 8 : The Evolution of the American Language

Image
American English, is a vibrant language, with several different strands, which showcases its evolution. It presents the combination of varying influences, each one leaving a clear mark on the language we speak today.  The American language may seem weird for new learners. As one article points out, “the spelling doesn’t match the pronunciation.” Imagine coming to America as an immigrant, and having to learn this language. It would seem like an almost impossible task due to all the grammar rules, ironic spellings, and homophonic words. However, it is all these quirks that make the American English language as unique as it is. According to a 2023 survey, English is the number one language spoken in the world!  As we are taking ourselves back to the 1920s in class, the jazz era covered by F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," showcases a much different language than many of us have heard before. The Roaring Twenties introduced a vivid array of phrases and terms that were
Read more

Mahesh - Week 8: A Necessity for Consideration

Image
  Mahesh - Week 8: A Necessity for Consideration The English language has experienced a change due to pop culture, exemplified by the popularity of rap songs and the value that younger generations give to these types of music. If we take the time to reflect on the progression of the English language in a colloquial sense, it is noteworthy that English speakers have become more remiss in their adherence to the grammatical rules that compose the language. English, like any other language, has endured changes that have redefined the limits of what is acceptable in an informal setting. Texting, for example, is a prevalent form of communication that many Americans employ to convey their thoughts. Although an instrument for rapid communication, texting has contorted parts of English. For example, many texters prefer using “u” rather than “you,” demonstrating how many veer away from English grammatical principles. The shortening of phrases that texting institutes among the American public may
Read more

Sana Thakkar Week 8: Hollywood's Global Influence

Image
          The room darkens, and all focus shifts to a singular light. Suddenly, you find yourself at 4 Privet Drive with obnoxious screaming from a large angry man, and a quiet boy with an odd scar on his head. Before you know it, you're in a high-speed car chase with a man named Ethan Hunt, who is driving a sleek black BMW off of a cliff, while somehow assuring you of your survival. A loud squeal later, you are in a fashionable New York City apartment with a women who claims to be a thirteen year old stuck in a thirty year old's body.       From "Harry Potter" and "Mission Impossible" to "13 going on 30",  Hollywood creates immersive worlds, transporting its audience into an exciting and enticing experience. The U.S. film industry has affirmed its rightful place on the world stage, creating rippling effects in societies globally, allowing the dominance of American pop culture since the mid-twentieth century.       Disney, one of Hollywood's mo
Read more