Generic Names For Soft Drinks

Here's a breakdown by county.

I think Coca Cola commissioned this survey ...

my wife and her family are pepsi drinkers but refer to them as cokes. I never understood it.

ynotryme


my wife and her family are pepsi drinkers but refer to them as cokes. I never understood it.

This is quite simple, sometimes a brand name becomes so firmly implanted in consumer's mind that the brand becomes the name of the product e. g  Kleenex for all tissues, Q-tips for all cotton swabs. This  also happens in nations around the world where a certain brand may dominate, our Cuban neighbors told us that all blenders are called osterizers and  all refridgerators are frigidaires to the point that almost 50 years since they were sold in Cuba they remain the name of the item

It wasn't until a number of years back that Pepsi forced the restaurants that served Pepsi to correct their customers when they asked for a "coke".  Before then, in a lot of the country "coke" was universal for any cola drink.  When you ordered a "coke", no one ever asked, "Is Pepsi OK?"

Interesting map. i'm curious about "Other".
For example, there's such a range in some states, like New Mexico (one of my favs) 
which has 80 -100% Coke county next to 80-100% Soda county, close to  two 80-100% "Other" counties, and 50-80% "other" nearby, too.

Similar in Central Texas: 80-100% Coke next to 80-100% Other.
Parts of North Carolina and Virginia, too
One in South Central Missouri.
Central oregon has one 80-100% "Other" surrounded by "Pop".
A few primary "Other" in South Central Florida. Some in Alabama, one in Miss. 
One in West Kansas.

Does anyone familiar with any of the places have an opinion on what the popular "Other" might be?

I have heard Tonic before as a generic word for a soft drink around Boston, and a few other spots.   Interesting to see that the area around St. Louis, MO is about the only place where Soda is widespread. If you say "Pop" in St. Louis, you'll definitely get a funny look...

I found a cooler full of FAYGO products today at a Corydon, IN Gas Station. The Cherry Cola was "OK", but the REDPOP was a really good throwback to the days when RedPop was what I asked for at the counter !!  Note, I am not talking about "Big Red"...but the Strawberry Soda with the bright red label SCREAMING  "REDPOP !!"

It is selling for 93 cents per 24oz plastic bottle!

ynotryme


my wife and her family are pepsi drinkers but refer to them as cokes. I never understood it.

 
Here in Atlanta, the headquarters of Coke, EVERY soft drink is Coke!

jman


Here's a breakdown by county.

 
Fantastic, thank you so very much for posting this tremendous link. Any idea what may be some of the terms used in the "other" category?

Maybe sodapopcoke?

Other could be soft drink, tonic or cola. Soft drink is used in Minnesota though it is a pop state. I grew up in Indianapolis and still think and say coke and that confuses people in Minnesota.

Always been "Pop" to me.  But then, I'm an Iowa boy.

Born and raised in New Jersey, moved in my teens to central Pa, and it's always been 'soda' to me.

Grew up drinking "soda" in Brooklyn. It's still soda here in Union County NJ too.

The "pop-soda" line in PA is definitely somewhere west of the Susquehanna River.  Pittsburgh, SE Ohio and WVA are definitely pop places.  As you move east, it's kinda ill defined.  That is until you get east of Harrisburg, where it's soda 100%.

I wonder what "other" would be?