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July 08, 2008

Here's to you Diet Coke -- 26 years young

Today is diet Coke's 26th birthday. We introduced diet Coke in the U.S. on this day in 1982, and made soft-drink history in doing so.

Diet_coke_introductionNaming the brand "diet Coke" marked the first extension of the trademarks "Coca-Cola" and "Coke" (the first time we used those names on a drink that wasn't Coca-Cola itself).

For our first diet beverage in 1963, called TaB, the Company felt that the word "diet" before Coca-Cola might weaken the Coke brand. So instead they chose TaB, a name with no connection to Coca-Cola.

I guess that goes to show that we don't always know everything! Within two years, diet Coke became the top low-calorie soft drink in the world and the most successful new soft drink since Coca-Cola itself had been introduced. (And I'm proud to say diet Coke is still the No. 1 diet drink!)

I didn't have my blog last year for diet Coke's 25th anniversary, but we did celebrate! A member of my team went to Canada for the birthday, and even had to sing the "introducing diet Coke" theme during a radio interview there! If I had a tape of that interview, it would be part of this post!

Posted at 11:39 AM in Our Drinks |

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Comments

Last year I tasted and fell in love with Coca-Cola lite in Italy. Any chance it will come to America? If not, why not?

Posted by: audreysimage | July 21, 2008 at 07:06 PM

audreysimage -- You're in luck! Coca-Cola light is actually diet Coke, so -- in essence -- it's already here in the U.S. Glad to hear you liked it! -- Phil

Posted by: Phil Mooney | July 22, 2008 at 10:54 AM

Would like to know if Coca Cola had any film star endorsements? I do know of one, for the 1933 film, "Dinner at Eight" which showed the entire cast, on the set, relaxing with Cokes in their hands...but are there any others from any period? & Would they be available as posters, etc.?? Many thanks!!! Ben Grego

Posted by: BG43214 | July 23, 2008 at 10:15 AM

Ben - Yes, Coke has been the part of many movies, and celebrities have been in our advertising since the very beginning. This is a subject I love to talk about, so I hope you check back to the blog often and see the latest celebrity or movie news. But in the meantime, I wanted to point out some of the posts on my blog: movies featuring diet Coke, more unusual celebrities that have been in diet Coke ads and even early celebrities. Many of these movie or celebrity tie-ins did result in posters and photos, but we at Coke don't have them for sale. You could check the Coca-Cola Collectors Club or a site like eBay to find the original magazine ads or posters. Thanks -- Phil

Posted by: Phil Mooney | July 23, 2008 at 02:31 PM

I remember as a 12year-old trying Diet Caffine-Free Coke for the first time. I thought it tasted like water. It sure didn't have the sugar kick like my favorite drink, Coca-Cola! I find now that I'm in my 30's I'm more carful about what I drink. Diet Caffine-free Coke is the only pop we buy now. I dare way my wife is addicted to it! I've blogged about it here:
http://www.mycokecancollection.com/caffine-free-diet-coke-can
My mother-in-law was a big TaB fan too. I got a chuckle out of the movie "Back to the Future" when Marty went into the soda bar and asked for a "TaB". The clerk said we couldn't start a tab unless he ordered something! :)

Posted by: Derek | April 11, 2009 at 03:52 PM

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