I love Dr. Pepper, Coca-Cola, 7Up, and Squirt! (I also buy RC occasionally because I feel sorry for it - it tastes fine but is so squeezed out by Coke and Pepsi.) Pop may be bad for you if you drink too much, but it also, obviously, contains water. And VitaminWater contains sugar. I remember getting happy when I saw a doctor on a talk show say we shouldn't worry so much and Coke is an excellent source of water!
Have you seen that Coke is promoting that very fact on their most recent 12-pack packaging? There's a whole blurb about how Coke is an excellent way to stay hydrated. Between that and calling VitaminWater "VitaminWater," they ought to get the Chutzpah Award for Advertising this year.
I don't think I've even seen an RC since the late 80s.
There was a big competition between Coke and Pepsi over Gatorade. Coke was about to buy it but negotiations broke down and Pepsi swooped in. Coke has been trying to fight back with Powerade, but most of the flavors of Powerade aren't as good, which is too bad cuz Powerade is less expensive. I love the Arctic Shatter flavor though!
I thought that competition was over Snapple, but maybe that was a different competition.
Why do people like ingesting unhealthy sugars so much?
Because it's our patriotic duty. I didn't drink pop until I was 12, and I've been addicted ever since. I wish I liked coffee more, because it's sure as shit a healthier way to get my daily caffeine fix, but it's just not meant to be.
Speaking of sugar, I've been wondering whether these floods in Iowa, which is the largest producer of corn and high-fructose corn syrup, will cause the soda industry to switch back to real sugar. It's possible, and it would make me a very happy consumer.