What Do You Call This Popular Beverage?

[Paul Farquhar]

They are almost always connected to the municipal water supply, and might have a filter and/or water softener between the device and the water meter to meet the standards of the beverage company (Coca-Cola is very particular about the water their vendors are allowed to use). It then gets mixed with CO2 gas in the feed line, then mixed with syrup at the nozzle right before it lands in the cup.

Given the number of beverages that a soda fountain dispenses in a single day, it would require a huge tank to have its own independent water supply. Like, hundreds or maybe even thousands of gallons

That’s what I thought. At least they have a filter to keep the bits of dead rat out.

 

[CleverNickName]

That’s what I thought. At least they have a filter to keep the bits of dead rat out.

lol yeah, that whole "rats in the soda" thing is a myth; it's impossible without deliberate sabotage or consumer fraud.

There are plenty of real reasons not to drink soda; we don't need to invent dubious ones.

 

[dbolack]

Soda jerk is archaic terminology because it referred to an employee whose primary job was to operate an old fashioned soda fountain with a lever arm they pulled down on (the "jerk"). I will accept correction from anyone who can attest to it being in current usage somewhere, though.

Agreed. Outside of themed Malt shops and the odd tourist trap that still has a "soda counter", I haven't encountered it this century.

 

[TheAlkaizer]

Here in Quebec, we call Coca-Cola "Coke". If you wanted a Coca-cola you'd ask for a Coke. Most other brands we call by their name. Interestingly enough, the French translation for Soft Drink is Boisson Gazeuse, or Fizzy Drink if you want. However, most Quebeccer call all soft drinks Liqueur, which translates to liquor.

We also have strong French immigration, and they call Coca-Cola just Cola. And they use the word Soda for all soft drinks.

 

[aco175]

My best Coke story was from when I was in the Army back in 92-93 and we were in Panama at the jungle training school. After the 3rd day of walking around the jungle and only once running away from 'killer' bees, we settled into a perimeter to rest and take care of things like food and change your socks, and not touch the glow-in-the-dark frogs. We were all tired of being Jungle hot and Jungle humid when all of a sudden a 12-year-old boy shows up like he knew where we were with a 5-gallon bucket filled with ice and Cokes in old glass soda bottles that had been refilled. Mine came in an old Fanta orange bottle, but it was coke. He sold us a mango and a bottle of Coke for a dollar, and then just waited until we finished to take the bottle back. He likely still comes every few days to where the soldiers are training.

Most satisfying soda I ever had.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Agreed. Outside of themed Malt shops and the odd tourist trap that still has a "soda counter", I haven't encountered it this century.

Yeah, the last time I saw one in person was as a child at a Woolworth’s. That was right around the last time I saw a caboose on a freight train as well.

 

[GreyLord]

Hmm, not sure where I would fall geographically on my usage.

I call it a Soft Drink (as opposed to the Hard Drinks).

 

[Cruentus]

Coke/Pepsi, depending on which brand the food establishment has chosen to stock as its singular product. I used to be a Pepsi drinker, but now its 'whatever, that's fine' when I ask for a Pepsi and they say "Is Coke ok?"

 

[Pale Violet Light]

Soda jerk is archaic terminology because it referred to an employee whose primary job was to operate an old fashioned soda fountain with a lever arm they pulled down on (the "jerk").

A soda jerk is someone who gets too worked up over the correct use of the term “soda jerk”.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

But haven't existed in the UK for something like 30 years.

Apparently, the existence of drinking fountains in the UK waxes & wanes:

The curious history of London’s public drinking water fountains

The construction of hundreds of fountains was a social movement that transformed London’s public spaces.

theconversation.com

https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/waste-and-recycling/single-use-plastic-bottles/drinking-fountains-london

However, it looks like at least some of the more modern ones are designed more for refilling bottles than for drinking from directly.