Soda vs "Pop"

http://www.popvssoda.com/countystats/total-county.html

I think this is a fascinating map. It shows regionally in the country what terminology people use to reference soft drinks. Growing up in New Jersey, we called all types of soft drinks soda. My mom's family are from Buffalo NY. As a kid, going to visit, I was confounded when everyone referred to soda as "pop". Looking at this map, you can see the state of New York divided almost directly east/west of the Finger Lakes region. There are other curious demarcations nationwide as well.

Very interesting. Thanks for the link.

I've seen this map before. I'm trying to get a sense of what I see the most of when I look at this map, but it's hard. It appears that the nation is more "pop" than anything else. Do you think that's an accurate read?

Thanks, tamandmik. I grew up in the green land of 80-100% "soda" and my college roommate was from dark blue "pop" land. It was my first true experience with culture shock. I wonder if there's one for what goes inside the turkey at Thanksgiving - stuffing, dressing, filling, etc.

I'd be interested in what constitues "other" (ie - what other names for carbonated beverages are used some places.) I think "tonic" is one, but it sounds old-fashioned. phosphorus? bubble juice?

quote:

Originally posted by NYNM

I'd be interested in what constitues "other" (ie - what other names for carbonated beverages are used some places.) I think "tonic" is one, but it sounds old-fashioned. phosphorus? bubble juice?

Other includes "soft drink" which, in spite of the fact that the map puts me thoroughly in "soda" country (Montgomery County MD), is what I remember it being called as a kid and still sometimes call it (though they too often don't know what I mean here in another branch of "soda" country--San Francisco).

quote:

Originally posted by Spudnut

I've seen this map before. I'm trying to get a sense of what I see the most of when I look at this map, but it's hard. It appears that the nation is more "pop" than anything else. Do you think that's an accurate read?

What I see is there are too d_mned many upper midwest "pop" people moving to Southern Arizona "soda" country.

I see in Georgia it's mostly "coke" (??). I guess that explains the strange looks and gawks I get in the hotels/motels in Atlanta when I am up there on business and ask where the (Diet) Pepsi machine is.

Growing up in Chicago a sat night treat was always a Botalapop. When we got older it was a Botalabeer.

That map really is interesting. I wonder how they did the reserach for it?

I grew up on eastern PA and live here now, so have always called it soda. Husband is from eastern WA and always called it pop, but since he's lived in PA for the past 23 years, he now says soda. We met in Atlanta and lived there for 6 years and that's where we heard soda/pop called Coke. I figured they called it that since Coca-Cola originated there.

I have seen this map before, and I would like to know if anybody else from the Roadfood community has experienced this...

I was raised right on the borderline in upstate New York between the Pop community, and the Soda people...and I swear, we would refer to those beverages as "soda pop."!

Anybody else on the "border," with similar experiences?

Here is Northeastern NY it has always been soda or, less often, soda-pop.

While time has dulled my memory a bit(my wife says more than just a bit!!), I seem to think that we always called it soda at Cornell in Ithaca, my time spent there was roughly from 1963-1968.

Going just a few miles west (generally in pursuit of the female of the species) to Keuka College near Penn Yan, the term pop was most often used.

Seems to me that I have heard soda called "dope" in parts of Kentucky.

Wally

Plattsburgh, NY and Cornell '67

growing up in new jersey i've always called it SODA.. when we moved out here (indiana) in 87 i had no idea what they were talking about when they asked me "do you want your pop in a sack??? " to me-- pop is what my husband called my father... !!!
i still call it soda-- although every once in a blue moon i'll hear the word pop come out of my mouth.. my kids--both being born here in hoosierville-- use both words soda and pop..
i guess it's all what you're used to and what you've grown up with...

still soda to me...:)

quote:

Originally posted by Diner-Lover

That map really is interesting. I wonder how they did the reserach for it?

I grew up on eastern PA and live here now, so have always called it soda. Husband is from eastern WA and always called it pop, but since he's lived in PA for the past 23 years, he now says soda. We met in Atlanta and lived there for 6 years and that's where we heard soda/pop called Coke. I figured they called it that since Coca-Cola originated there.

You can vote for yourself, there is a box with radio buttons (home page: http://www.popvssoda.com/ ), where you can choose what you call soft drinks. Then, they ask you for a zip code. In turn, the zip code probably affixes itself to the associated county, adding to the statistics. I think this data is continually evolving! Which makes it even more fascinating, at least to me.

Neat! I'm going there right now to add my vote. Thanks, tamandmik!

I read an interesting page regarding what soft drinks are commonly called in other countries.

For instance in Canada "Soft Drink" is the most common term. "Pop" refers to a carbonated soft drink. "Soda" is very infrequently used.

In Scotland, soft drinks are commonly known as "ginger", and in Mexico soft drinks are called "sodas" in the north. In central and southern Mexico, they are called "refrescos", and less frequently "gaseosas".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soda_pop

quote:

Originally posted by tacchino

I have seen this map before,

Yes, a link was posted 7 months ago right here on Roadfood by Mr. Bill Voss in a topic titled "Do you say Pop or Soda?"

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6080

One of the first things my kids noticed when we moved here from Cincinnati was that their classmates teased them about them asking for "pop". It's "coke" here, which blew me away because I just thought it was either "soda" or "pop".

It's interesting that the word "pop" originated in England, first documented trace of it being 1812. But then it has become such a U.S. regional term that many are even puzzled by its use!

From Online Etymology Dictionary: Meaning "flavored carbonated beverage" is from 1812.
"A new manufactory of a nectar, between soda-water and ginger-beer, and called pop, because ‘pop goes the cork’ when it is drawn." [Southey, letter, 1812]

I guess if they had not used corks, but went with metal bottle caps and poptop cans from the start, we'd now be calling "Pop" either ""Hiss" or maybe "Woosh".

I too come from a border area. Both soda and pop were used equally. There was a third term that did dominate during my youth. When one went to the drug store soda fountain you always asked for a phosphate, such as a cherry coke phosphate. Phosphate may be one of the mysterious third terms on the map.

quote:

Originally posted by NYNM

I'd be interested in what constitues "other" (ie - what other names for carbonated beverages are used some places.) I think "tonic" is one, but it sounds old-fashioned. phosphorus? bubble juice?

I grew up in Massachusetts. In our area (and throughout Maine and New Hampshire), soft drinks were generically, "tonic". When my new wife from NJ was offered a "tonic" by my mother, she thought my mother felt her to be sickly and in need of a medicine! This was 50 - 60 years ago, so perhaps things have changed.

On that website, if you follow the link that says "View the Pop vs Soda statistics" it gives you a state by state breakdown:

http://www.popvssoda.com/stats/ALL.html

If you click on each individual state you can see what people entered for "other"

Randy

My East Texas Grandmother called it soda pop, my grandmother from Mesquite with Tennessee roots called it sody pop, my immediate family calls them all Coke. I will never forget telling my Missouri born step-mom I wanted a coke and being very disturbed when she took me literally. I really wanted a Dr. Pepper. She didn't ask what kind. Of course, after 30 years in Texas, she calls everything Coke now too.

As a diabetic, these days I drink only diet "soda". We frequently travel "down South"; what is Red Pop? Cherry?

Faygo Brand REDPOP" is a strawberry soda. I used to be really fond of it. It was found in the convenience stores and some Markets in SoCal. I get it now and then when we head down thru Texas on our way west. I see it here in the Ohio Valley, but not on a regular basis. BIG RED on the other hand is a popular soda here in the Ohio Valley. It is very sweet and reminds me of the Fleers Pink Bubble Gum as far as flavor goes.

Your comment raises an interesting point of terms... If we call it "Diet Soda" do 'Pop' folks call theirs "Diet Pop"? or "Diet Tonic"? I have tried Diet Moxie, and believe me it is not the same as the Regular!!

I always think of Cream Soda when thinking of Red Pop!

In the Carolina's we had Cheerwine!
Since I have to closely watch my sugar intake, I was very glad when they came out with Diet Cheerwine.
According to my southern friends, the fact that I drank diet cheerwine was a clear indication that I was a yankee. But then, since I was their only yankee, I was kept around...like a pet, I think.

Growing up in Connecticut, cream soda, which was really vanilla, was about the color of ginger ale. At least it was from Foxon Park, Paramount, Hoffman's and Cott's.

I can no longer find white birch beer either!

Polar Beverages in Worchester, MA still bottles white birch beer. It's my kids' favorite.
Top

Albany NY area has always been Soda. I have friends who live In Gloucester, MA. They always called Soda/Pop, Tonic.

Very interresting....Now, I wonder where I can find a map that shows the breakdown between:

1. gum bands vs. rubber bands
2. red up your room vs. clean up your room
3. shut out the light vs. turn out the light
3. yinz, younz, y'all vs. you guys
4. nebby vs. nosey

Here in the South saying lets go get a "Coke" means you might order a coke, a rootbeer, a orange drink, etc. Coke takes the place of soda or pop.

You can call it pop or you can call it soda or you can call it tonic (?) but calling it Coke is just wrong.

Cakes

This months {March} issue of the Elks magazine has a nice article about soda pop written by frelance writer Larry Tritten. It can be found on line at www.elks.org click on magazine then archives. Chow Jim

I remember my first encounter with soda vs. pop. I was a young man arriving at college in Iowa, fresh from New Jersey. After depositing my suitcases in the dorm I headed for the small town square and the corner drug store.

I seated myself at the counter. When asked what I'd like, I replied, "I'll have a cherry soda, please."

The waitress looked at me and quite politely said, "Young man...you really want a pop, don't you?"

She then explained the difference between an ice cream soda and pop. Indeed, I wanted pop.

It had been quite a day. Only a few hours earlier, as I cruised into Iowa, I stopped alongside the road and asked a farmer on a tractor how far my destination was. He pointed out the way and happily assured, "It's blacktop all the way"

'Blacktop all the way?' I thought to myself, 'What else could it be?'

Needless to note, the following years proved quite an education. From Newark, N.J., to Iowa. What a time it was, time it was.
The Bear

It's coke, no matter the brand.

Wanna coke? Yep. What kind? Pepsi, Dr. Pepper and if you want coke a Co-Cola rofl.

My papaw called em dopes. Suppose to have been a bit of cocaine in the co-cola way back when.

Many years ago, I knew a woman from Nebraska who did not just call it "pop". She referred to all carbonated beverages as "Shasta Pop", presumably because the Shasta brand was dominant in the area where she lived.

Come to think of it, the word "pop" was not actually uttered by her, as she consistently pronounced the word as Pawwp. The first few times that she rolled that pronunciation out of her mouth, I had no idea of what she was talking about.

quote:

Originally posted by BhamBabe

It's coke, no matter the brand.

Wanna coke? Yep. What kind? Pepsi, Dr. Pepper and if you want coke a Co-Cola rofl.

My papaw called em dopes. Suppose to have been a bit of cocaine in the co-cola way back when.

That is true. In the early days of the beverage, Coca Cola did contain a very small amount of cocaine. After a few years, the formula was modified so that only the flavor of the coca leaves was imparted, without extracting any of the cocaine alkaloids.

Can I assume that the same people who ask for a Co-Cola are the ones who also say oran-juice when they want orange juice?

quote:

Originally posted by Tedbear

Can I assume that the same people who ask for a Co-Cola are the ones who also say oran-juice when they want orange juice?

Only the ones that don't speak proper Southern Most times it's OJ.

In Central Texas we use "coke" as our term. "Can I have a coke?" Sure, what do you want?" "Dr. Pepper." If you want a Coke, you respond with, "Cokee-Cola".

Some times with older, or country folk, you hear, "sodee", as in, "Gimmie' ah sodee thar' boy, wee' ya? One ah dem' Fanta uhranges ina' bottle. Thankee', mahty-fine."

Hello All,
I have always called it, pop. My relatives in Pa. called it, soda.
I called my father, "Pop." Everyone else seemed to called their fathers, dad.
My daughter won't call me, pop, but insists on "Dad."
She has the type of sense of humour that she would call me "Soda."
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

also familiar with tonic

They call it "pop" here (WA), but I still call it "soda" (CA). Those demographics the OP linked to must be true.

Does anybody here know what's with that one big section of NV that calls soda "coke"? I know in Atlanta, coke's called that because that's where it was invented, same for the North Casrolinan's calling soda "pepsi".

quote:

Originally posted by Kenny da Fat Man

Very interresting....Now, I wonder where I can find a map that shows the breakdown between:

1. gum bands vs. rubber bands
2. red up your room vs. clean up your room
3. shut out the light vs. turn out the light
3. yinz, younz, y'all vs. you guys
4. nebby vs. nosey

1. rubber
2. clean up
3. turn out...actually turn off but close enough
4. you guys
5. nosey

I'm from Northwest Ohio and we say pop here. As for whether we say diet pop I've never actually said it. Even though I say pop, I've occasionally said diet soda but never diet pop. Usually I just say I want a diet if I'm not sure if a restaurant has coke or Pepsi. my sister does have a friend that refers to every type of pop as coke but she's from NW Ohio too so that is a bit weird. Pepsi is her pop of choice which makes the whole thing even stranger.