The battle of the red and white-themed bubbly drinks. With dull color yet fizzy carbonation, Coke and Pepsi have taken the soda world by storm. The longstanding rivalry has existed ever since their creation, with many debating which drink is superior. 

But what truly makes these drinks different? Why are many so loyal to their favorite brand? What’s the deal with the Coke versus Pepsi craze? 

This phenomenon has a title for itself: The Cola Wars. The two soft-drink producers have competed against each other for decades ever since their creation in the nineteenth century. 

Coke was created first in 1886 by John Stith Pemberton. Control of the recipe was given to Asa Griggs Candler in 1896, who later created The Coca-Cola Company. In 1898, the Pepsi-Cola drink was created by Caleb Bradham. The Pepsi-Cola company was created four years later, and that is where it all began. 

The first outright clash of the colas was in 1975, when Pepsi launched the “Pepsi Challenge” advertisements. In these commercials, people were asked which drink they preferred in blind taste tests. According to the campaign, tasters preferred Pepsi over Coke. This “experiment” was a marketing strategy and it caused an increase in Pepsi sales. 

These conflicting advertisements have continued ever since. However, not all of them have been successful. I’m sure we all remember the tone-deaf Pepsi commercial where celebrity Kendall Jenner handed a Pepsi can to a police officer during a Black Lives Matter protest. By doing this, all problems were magically solved. 

It’s hard to believe a can of soda can solve complex society problems. However, Coke isn’t in the clear when it comes to controversial commercials. In 1961, the company launched a commercial where it stated Coke keeps one thin, supporting harmful body image ideas.

Pepsi and Coke have also had a significant influence on pop culture. The companies have been mentioned millions of times across many different platforms. Many people have pledged their loyalty to their drink of choice, and it has become a serious debate. There are clothes, toys, and even songs dedicated to the two sodas. You are either a Coke fan or a Pepsi fan. There is absolutely no in between. 

At South, there are lots of Coke and Pepsi options to choose from. It varies from regular Coke and Pepsi, Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi, to even other flavors like cherry. These drinks are not only sold in the cafeteria, but also various vending machines within the school. 

What it all comes down to is taste differences, Pepsi is considered to be “sweeter” and Coke is considered to be “spicier”. This is due to the fact that Pepsi contains citric acid and has a slightly larger amount of sugar. Coke has a “vanillan” chemical and a higher concentration of sodium, leading to the sharp taste that most people describe. 

As a Pepsi fan myself, it saddens me to say that Coke is the preferred drink around the world. According to Gitnux, a marketing research agency, Coke holds 44 percent of the United States carbonated soft drink market while Pepsi has 24 percent. However, in my opinion, popularity does not determine greatness. 

But which is actually better? Pepsi or Coke? Maybe there is no answer. Maybe that’s the beauty of it. It’s a feud as fantastic as the drinks themselves. So whatever your choice is, remember there’s no wrong way to enjoy a soda! Or is there…?