Tuesday, June 14, 2011

New Coke in 1985

New Coke hit shelves in 1985.
Growing up in the 1980s, Coke was it! For some reason I just wasn't a Pepsi fan. No matter how many commercials attempted to sway me with reminders about how America preferred Pepsi after taking the Pepsi Challenge, all I know is that I loved the taste of Coke.

It was because of that Pepsi Challenge nonsense that Coke sales began to slip in 1983. Coke couldn't handle losing sales to Pepsi and decided to reformulate their already-delicious Coca-Cola formula. In 1985 we were introduced to New Coke. Personally, I don't remember hating it. I drank it and didn't really have much to say about it. Then again I was only like 12. However, the world around me was up in arms over it.

Remember Coke watches?
Coke was such a big deal back in the mid-80s. We had Coca-Cola watches, Coca-Cola rugby shirts. We kids LOVED Coca-Cola. Do you remember this craze? How did you feel about New Coke?

Too young to remember New Coke? Check out Bill Cosby in this 1985 commercial for New Coke.

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23 comments:

  1. mamahasspokenJune 14, 2011 at 8:32 AM

    Oh I remember that time if for any other reason, it is a prime example of what not to do with a product. I had an aunt who stocked pile the old coke in her basement and acted like the world was coming to an end because Coke had change. As for me it made me switch to Pepsi during that time and now will drink which ever one is on sale.

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  2. Anthony ScottJune 14, 2011 at 8:51 AM

    I was 13 when that took place. I think a friend of mine at that time thought the "lawsuit" to bring back old Coke was real.

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  3. SuzeJune 14, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    Coke. New Coke. Pepsi. They all suck.

    Dr. Pepper, baby.

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  4. AllyJune 14, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Mama- Shame on you :)
    Anthony - So true!
    Suze - um, ew? I've always hated Dr. Pepper because to me it was like, is this Cherry Coke or Root Beer? I hated the questionable flavor and to this day I hate anything but Diet Coke, Coke Zero or Coke. I loathe lemon-lime beverages, orange or grape sodas, root beers, cream sodas, etc. Yes, I'm a weirdo. Honestly, in my old age - my first choice is purified water or unsweetened/naturally brewed iced teas.

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  5. UnknownJune 14, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    New coke in one hand, jello pudding pop in the other, harassing & objectifying women all day long.

    You go, Bill. You go.

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  6. AnonymousJune 14, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    I totally rocked out the Coke sweatshirts, too. If I remember, they were kind of expensive for that time. Funny thing is that my mom was a Pepsi person.

    PS: I now have that Scritti Politti song stuck in my head from your tweet! Gah!

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  7. Oilfield TrashJune 14, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    I remember that like it was yesterday.

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  8. Bossy BettyJune 14, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    I remember the hype well!!

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  9. TS HendrikJune 14, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    New coke was such a brilliant marketing strategy.

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  10. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comJune 14, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    Since I took the Pepsi Challenge in the 80's, I realized I like Coke A LOT better. I never understood why the world went Pepsi.
    xoRobyn

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  11. LL Cool JoeJune 14, 2011 at 4:00 PM

    I remember having a Coca-Cola rugby shirt, now that is embarrassing!

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  12. titaniumgrrlJune 14, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    Oh yes...Coke was it ...fer sure...

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  13. Ms. AJune 14, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    I remember my brother in law having a complete meltdown over it!

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  14. AdaJune 14, 2011 at 7:07 PM

    There was a study between Coke and Pepsi, and the funny thing was that in a blind taste test, most people chose Pepsi, but once they knew which was Coke and which was Pepsi, they actually consciously chose the Coke more often. Apparently the very Coke-ness of Coke activates their brains in a way that is suggestive of good vibes and nostalgia!

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  15. BelleJune 14, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    I remember all the hoopla about the New Coke. I was drinking Pepsi at the time, but started drinking Coke later. Have you noticed how watered down Coke is now? I can't even drink it when I am in the U.S. The calories are way down too.

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  16. edJune 14, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    yea im also a coke person

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  17. SuzeJune 15, 2011 at 1:44 AM

    My first choice is actually water, too. Or coffee. Just not watered-down coffee ...

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  18. dopdavidJune 15, 2011 at 2:24 AM

    i was a child in 1990s and coke is still my favorite drink, sometimes a roy rogers but nothing beats plain ice cold coke

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  19. Pat TillettJune 15, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    I was always an RC Cola guy...
    I do remember when this came out though

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  20. MarleneJune 15, 2011 at 8:07 PM

    I do remember...and I started drinking pepsi right after that....and haven't stopped. (Except that I now drink diet pepsi.) Don't throw a book at me, sheesh. ;)

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  21. UnknownJune 15, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    My theory is that they intended to cause a public backlash, and then "bow to the pressure" and change the formula back (allowing enough time so that no one would notice the switch from cane sugar to high-fructose corn syrup).

    Nowadays I'm partial to RC cola, though I do prefer coke over pepsi

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  22. TeachinfourthJune 19, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    I was a root beer fan at the time.

    Now? Dr. Pepper all the way.

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  23. pika23June 29, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    I never tried it, but I seem to remember grandma and mom turning to diet coke...and RC. I didn't have a coke watch, but had a coke sweatshirt.

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