Coca-Cola Is Making An 'Alcopop' Version For The First Time In 125 Years — Lovers Of Boozy Treats Rejoice!
Our excitement level knows no bounds.
Unsplash: Jamakassi Good news for lovers of boozy treats and creative alcoholic beverages! The fine folks at Coca-Cola are jumping into the cocktail game for the first time in their 125-year history, as they've just announced their plan to launch a low alcohol content, "alcopop" version of their classic caffeinated soda in Japan.
What is alcopop, you ask? I shall happily tell you!
So here's the skinny. While it isn't as common here in the United States to find alcoholic beverages being sold right alongside non-booze filled tasty beverages anymore, think back to when wine coolers, Bacardi Breezes, Zima and the like were super popular. In the UK, these sweet, low alcohol content level (typically between 3% and 8% ABV) drinks are commonly called alcopops (alcohol plus pop), and in Japan, the the category is known as Chu-Hi.
The newest Coca-Cola beverages are part of this market, and will contain a Japanese liquor called shōchū, plus that delicious Coke flavoring we all know and love.
The news has quickly gone viral, mainly because the idea of a booze-soda is basically the stuff most Americans dream of, even if we all know full well it could ultimately be our undoing.
Tragically, Coca-Cola is being really cautious about bring the stuff to the shores of the USA, basically, for just this reason. Booze-soda of this kind, often referred to as "alternative beverages" or "malternatives," have been the subject of some serious controversy in the U.S. over the last several decades.
In a statement about the new venture, Jose Garduño, president of Coca-Cola Japan said the following:
“The Chu-Hi category is found almost exclusively in Japan. Globally, it’s not uncommon for non-alcoholic beverages to be sold in the same system as alcoholic beverages. It makes sense to give this a try in our market. But I don’t think people around the world should expect to see this kind of thing from Coca-Cola. While many markets are becoming more like Japan, I think the culture here is still very unique and special, so many products that are born here will stay here.”
It really was only a matter of time. Eventually the folks over there were going to run out of perverse things to do with their sodas — does anyone else remember that one Coke product that was coffee mixed with soda? I do. God. I do. *shudders* — and realize that the only way to be innovative is to pour alcohol into something that we all already love — namely, Coke!
Truth be told, we might be on track to have more booze-filled concoctions to drink, what with the rise of alcohol-enriched Kombucha and the like, but I don't think soda would be the right vehicle for it.
If anything, folks in this country have already shown loud and clear that they would view any bid by Coke to make a boozy version of their cola as a bid to get more kids to start drinking.
Just look at the controversy that erupted when Budweiser put that adorable sunglasses wearing dog on a skateboard.
RIP Spuds McKenzie, you were too perfect for this world.
Rebecca Jane Stokes is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York with her cat, Batman. She hosts the love and dating advice show, Becca After Dark on YourTango's Facebook Page every Tuesday and Thursday at 10:15 pm Eastern. For more of her work, check out her Tumblr.