Soft drink

A soft drink is a drink that contains no (or very little) alcohol, as opposed to a hard drink, which does contain alcohol. In general, the term is used only for cold beverages.

In the United States, "soft drink" denotes a carbonated drink, regionally known in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest as "pop". In the Northeast, parts of the South (near Florida) and Midwest (near St. Louis), and California, it is known as "soda". In Atlanta, Georgia and some other parts of the South, it is generically called "coke". (Atlanta is home to the Coca-Cola Corporation). Elsewhere it is called "soda pop". See the The Great Pop vs. Soda Controversy (http://www.popvssoda.com/) for maps and geographical trends.

In German, soft drinks are known as Limo short for Limonade, the German word for lemonade[?], but in America lemonade is an uncarbonated beverage, generally not considered a soft drink.

In Swedish, soft drinks are called läsk which comes from läskande drycker (roughly - refreshing drinks) and denotes carbonated non-alcoholic soft drinks. The word lemonad has more or less the same use as the English word lemonade, but belongs to a slightly higher level of style than läsk.

In Australia and New Zealand, "soft drink" almost always refers to carbonated beverages. "Lemonade" can refer to "lemon drink", but most of the time means clear soft drink (i.e. Sprite, 7-Up, etc.)

In the United Kingdom the term originally applied to carbonated drinks ("pop") and non-carbonated drinks made from concentrates ("squash"), although it now commonly refers to any drink that does not contain alcohol. To further confuse matters, alcopops are often called "alcoholic soft drinks".

Some famous soft drinks (by country):

• Austria
  • Almdudler (Flavoring by herbs and flowers)
  • Pago[?] (Mix of fruit juices)
  • Red Bull (Energy drink)

• Denmark
  • Dansk Citronvand[?] (Carbonated lemonade)
  • Jolly Cola[?] (Cola)

• Germany
  • Fanta[?] (Coca-Cola Company, but mainly in Europe)

• Latvia
  • Kvast[?] (Syrup flavored)

• Malta
  • Kinnie[?] (Black-orange with bitter)

• New Zealand
  • L&P[?] (Lemon and Paeroa[?]) is now made by the Coca-Cola Company.

• Peru
  • Inca Kola[?] (Green colored and tasting like bubble gum)

• Puerto Rico
  • Kola Champagne[?] (despite a name that suggest an alcoholic drink, Kola Champagne is actually a soft drink)
  • Coco Rico[?], (Coconut flavored soda)
  • Old Colony[?], (soda that is produced in grape and pineapple flavors)

• Sweden
  • Julmust (Traditional stout-like, very sweet seasonal soft drink)
  • Sockerdricka (Traditional sugar flavored soft drink)
  • Fruktsoda[?] (Traditional lemon-lime soft drink)
  • Champis[?] (Soft drink alternative to sparkling wine)
  • Pommac[?] (Soft drink alternative to sparkling wine)

• United Kingdom
  • Dandelion and burdock
  • Tonic water (Carbonated water flavored with quinine)
  • Lucozade[?]
  • Ribena
  • Tizer[?]
  • Vimto[?]
  • Irn Bru (Caffeinated soft drink made in Scotland)
  • Ginger beer (available with or without alcohol)

• United States
  • Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola Company)
  • Sprite (Coca-Cola Company)
  • Pepsi (PepsiCo)
  • Mountain Dew (PepsiCo)
  • Dr Pepper (Dr. Pepper/7 Up Company)
  • 7Up (Dr. Pepper/7 Up Company [in the United States])
  • Fanta[?]
  • Root beer (Traditional soft drink)
  • Salsaparilla soda[?] (Traditional soft drink)
  • Moxie (the first American mass produced soft drink)
  • Vernors[?]
  • Yoo-Hoo (chocolate flavored soft drink)

External links

• National Soft Drink Association (US) (http://www.nsda.org/)
• The Great Pop vs. Soda Controversy (http://www.popvssoda.com/)