Coca-Cola#Logo

File:John Pemberton.jpg, the original creator of Coca-Cola]]

File:19th century Coca-Cola coupon.jpg |volume=18 |date = October 2010|page=104 |issue=11}}]]

File:Coca Cola ad ca. 1943 IMG 3744.JPG.]]

File:Coca Cola Bottling Machine, Biedenharn Museum and Gardens IMG 4101.JPG in Monroe, Louisiana]]

Confederate Colonel John Pemberton, wounded in the American Civil War and addicted to morphine, also had a medical degree and began a quest to find a substitute for the problematic drug.Richard Gardiner, "The Civil War Origin of Coca-Cola in Columbus, Georgia," Muscogiana: Journal of the Muscogee Genealogical Society (Spring 2012), Vol. 23: 21–24. In 1885 at Pemberton's Eagle Drug and Chemical House, his drugstore in Columbus, Georgia, he registered Pemberton's French Wine Coca nerve tonic.{{cite web |url=http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/muscogee/photos/pemberto13411gph.txt |title=Coca-Cola Inventor was Local Pharmacist |work=Columbus Ledger |access-date=March 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511115720/http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/muscogee/photos/pemberto13411gph.txt |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/03/27/1514591/columbus-helped-make-cokes-success.html|title=Columbus helped make Coke's success|work=Columbus Ledger-Enquirer|date=March 27, 2011|access-date=August 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110115355/http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/03/27/1514591/columbus-helped-make-cokes-success.html|archive-date=November 10, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W4JGAQAAIAAJ&q=%22pemberton%2C+john+s.+atlanta%22+nerve&pg=PA423 |title=Annual Report of the Patent Office, 1885 |access-date=April 26, 2014 |last1=Patent Office |first1=United States |year=1886 |archive-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423112322/https://books.google.com/books?id=W4JGAQAAIAAJ&q=%22pemberton%2C+john+s.+atlanta%22+nerve&pg=PA423 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=pemberton_1.jpg|access-date=April 26, 2014|via=columbusstate.edu|url=http://facstaff.columbusstate.edu/gardiner_Richard/columbus/John_Pemberton_files/pemberton_1.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130908005438/http://facstaff.columbusstate.edu/gardiner_Richard/columbus/John_Pemberton_files/pemberton_1.jpg|archive-date=September 8, 2013}} Pemberton's tonic may have been inspired by the formidable success of Vin Mariani, a French-Corsican coca wine,{{cite book| last = Pendergrast| first = Mark|author-link=Mark Pendergrast|title = For God, Country and Coca-Cola| url = https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0| url-access = limited| date = 2000| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 978-0-465-05468-8| page = [https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0/page/25 25] }} but his recipe additionally included the African kola nut, the beverage's source of caffeine.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cokemachinedirty00blan|url-access=limited|title=The Coke machine : the dirty truth behind the world's favorite soft drink|last=Blanding|first=Michael|date=2010|publisher=Avery|isbn=9781583334065|location=New York|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cokemachinedirty00blan/page/n23 14]|oclc=535490831}} A Spanish drink called "Kola Coca" was presented at a contest in Philadelphia in 1885, a year before the official birth of Coca-Cola. The rights for this Spanish drink were bought by Coca-Cola in 1953.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/08/10/newser-spanish-town-coca-cola/2638515/|title=Spanish town claims origins of Coca-Cola|website=USA Today|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302212931/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/08/10/newser-spanish-town-coca-cola/2638515/|archive-date=March 2, 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Montón |first=Lorena |date=2024-09-18 |title=El origen español de la Coca-Cola es real |url=https://www.rtve.es/television/20240918/origen-espanol-coca-cola/16252984.shtml |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=RTVE |language=es}}

In 1886, when Atlanta and Fulton County passed prohibition legislation, Pemberton responded by developing Coca-Cola, a non-alcoholic version of Pemberton's French Wine Coca.{{cite magazine |first=Jack |last=Hayes |title=Coca-Cola Television Advertisements: Dr. John S. Pemberton |url=http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ccmphtml/colainvnt.html |magazine=Nation's Restaurant News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106000832/http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ccmphtml/colainvnt.html |archive-date=January 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2007 }} It was marketed as "Coca-Cola: The temperance drink", which appealed to many people as the temperance movement enjoyed wide support during this time. The first sales were at Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 8, 1886,{{cite web |url=http://cocacolaweb.online.fr/chronicle/01.php |author=The Coca-Cola Company |title=The Chronicle Of Coca-Cola |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917012648/http://cocacolaweb.online.fr/chronicle/01.php |archive-date=September 17, 2013 |url-status=dead }} where it initially sold for five cents a glass.{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2165787/ |title=The Mystery of the 5-Cent Coca-Cola: Why it's so hard for companies to raise prices |first=Tim |last=Harford |work=Slate |date=May 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514033738/http://www.slate.com/id/2165787/ |archive-date=May 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 12, 2007 }} Drugstore soda fountains were popular in the United States at the time due to the belief that carbonated water was good for the health,{{cite web |url=http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ccmphtml/colatime1.html |title=Themes for Coca-Cola Advertising (1886–1999) |access-date=February 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303070717/http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ccmphtml/colatime1.html |archive-date=March 3, 2007 |url-status=dead }} and Pemberton's new drink was marketed and sold as a patent medicine, Pemberton claiming it a cure for many diseases, including morphine addiction, indigestion, nerve disorders, headaches, and impotence. Pemberton ran the first advertisement for the beverage on May 29 of the same year in the Atlanta Journal.{{cite book| last = Pendergrast| first = Mark| title = For God, Country and Coca-Cola| url = https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0| url-access = limited| date = 2000| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 978-0-465-05468-8| page = [https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0/page/32 32] }}

By 1888, three versions of Coca-Cola – sold by three separate businesses – were on the market. A co-partnership had been formed on January 14, 1888, between Pemberton and four Atlanta businessmen: J.C. Mayfield, A.O. Murphey, C.O. Mullahy, and E.H. Bloodworth. Not codified by any signed document, a verbal statement given by Asa Candler years later asserted under testimony that he had acquired a stake in Pemberton's company as early as 1887.{{cite book| last = Pendergrast| first = Mark| title = For God, Country and Coca-Cola| url = https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0| url-access = limited| year=2000| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 978-0-465-05468-8| page = [https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0/page/42 42] }} John Pemberton declared that the {{em|name}} "Coca-Cola" belonged to his son, Charley, but the other two manufacturers could continue to use the {{em|formula}}.{{cite book| last = Pendergrast| first = Mark| title = For God, Country and Coca-Cola| url = https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0| url-access = limited| date = 2000| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 978-0-465-05468-8| pages = [https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0/page/45 45]–47 }}

Charley Pemberton's record of control over the "Coca-Cola" name was the underlying factor that allowed for him to participate as a major shareholder in the March 1888 Coca-Cola Company incorporation filing made in his father's place.{{cite book| last = Pendergrast| first = Mark| title = For God, Country and Coca-Cola| url = https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0| url-access = limited| date = 2000| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 978-0-465-05468-8| page = [https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0/page/45 45] }} Charley's exclusive control over the "Coca-Cola" name became a continual thorn in Asa Candler's side. Candler's oldest son, Charles Howard Candler, authored a book in 1950 published by Emory University. In this definitive biography about his father, Candler specifically states: "on April 14, 1888, the young druggist Asa Griggs Candler purchased a one-third interest in the formula of an almost completely unknown proprietary elixir known as Coca-Cola."{{cite book | last = Candler | first = Charles Howard | title = Asa Griggs Candler | year = 1950 | publisher = Emory University | page = 81 | location = Georgia }} The deal was actually between John Pemberton's son Charley and Walker, Candler & Co. – with John Pemberton acting as cosigner for his son. For $50 down and $500 in 30 days, Walker, Candler & Co. obtained all of the one-third interest in the Coca-Cola Company that Charley held, all while Charley still held on to the name. After the April 14 deal, on April 17, 1888, one-half of the Walker/Dozier interest shares were acquired by Candler for an additional $750.{{cite book| last = Pendergrast| first = Mark| title = For God, Country and Coca-Cola| url = https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0| url-access = limited| date = 2000| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 978-0-465-05468-8| pages = [https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0/page/44 44]–45 }}

After Candler had gained a better foothold on Coca-Cola in April 1888, he nevertheless was forced to sell the beverage he produced with the recipe he had under the names "Yum Yum" and "Koke". This was while Charley Pemberton was selling the elixir, although a cruder mixture, under the name "Coca-Cola", all with his father's blessing. After both names failed to catch on for Candler, by the middle of 1888, the Atlanta pharmacist was quite anxious to establish a firmer legal claim to Coca-Cola, and hoped he could force his two competitors, Walker and Dozier, completely out of the business, as well.

John Pemberton died suddenly on August 16, 1888. Asa Candler then decided to move swiftly forward to attain full control of the entire Coca-Cola operation.

Charley Pemberton, an alcoholic and opium addict, unnerved Asa Candler more than anyone else. Candler is said to have quickly maneuvered to purchase the exclusive rights to the name "Coca-Cola" from Pemberton's son Charley immediately after he learned of Dr. Pemberton's death. One of several stories states that Candler approached Charley's mother at John Pemberton's funeral and offered her $300 in cash for the rights to the name.

In Charles Howard Candler's 1950 book about his father, he stated: "On August 30 [1888], he {{bracket|Asa Candler}} became the sole proprietor of Coca-Cola, a fact which was stated on letterheads, invoice blanks and advertising copy."

With this action on August 30, 1888, Candler's sole control became technically all true. Candler had negotiated with Margaret Dozier and her brother Woolfolk Walker a full payment amounting to $1,000, which all agreed Candler could pay off with a series of notes over a specified time span. By May 1, 1889, Candler was claiming full ownership of the Coca-Cola beverage, with a total investment outlay by Candler for the drink enterprise over the years amounting to $2,300.{{cite book| last = Pendergrast| first = Mark| title = For God, Country and Coca-Cola| url = https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0| url-access = limited| date = 2000| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 978-0-465-05468-8| page = [https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0/page/46 46] }}

In 1914, Margaret Dozier, as co-owner of the original Coca-Cola Company in 1888, came forward to claim that her signature on the 1888 Coca-Cola Company bill of sale had been forged. Subsequent analysis of other similar transfer documents had also indicated John Pemberton's signature had most likely been forged as well, which some accounts claim was precipitated by his son Charley.

In 1892, Candler set out to incorporate a second company, the Coca-Cola Company (the modern corporation). When Candler had the earliest records of the "Coca-Cola Company" destroyed in 1910, the action was claimed to have been made during a move to new corporation offices around this time.{{cite book| last = Pendergrast| first = Mark| title = For God, Country and Coca-Cola| url = https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0| url-access = limited| date =2000| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 978-0-465-05468-8| page = [https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0/page/49 49] }}

On June 23, 1894, Charley Pemberton was found unconscious with a stick of opium by his side. Ten days later, Charley died at Atlanta's Grady Hospital at the age of 40.{{cite book| last = Pendergrast| first = Mark| title = For God, Country and Coca-Cola| url = https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0| url-access = limited| date = 2000| publisher = Basic Books| isbn = 978-0-465-05468-8| pages = [https://archive.org/details/forgodcountrycoc00pend_0/page/48 48]–49}}

On September 12, 1919, Coca-Cola Co. was purchased by a group of investors led by Ernest Woodruff's Trust Company for $25 million and reincorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law. The company publicly offered 500,000 shares of the company for $40 a share.{{cite web|url=http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/thisday/gahistory/09/12/coca-cola-sale-completed|title=This Day in Georgia History – Coca-Cola Sale Completed – GeorgiaInfo|work=usg.edu|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115081202/http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/thisday/gahistory/09/12/coca-cola-sale-completed|archive-date=November 15, 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/robert-w-woodruff-1889-1985|title=Robert W. Woodruff (1889–1985)|encyclopedia=New Georgia Encyclopedia|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330195106/https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/robert-w-woodruff-1889-1985|archive-date=March 30, 2019|url-status=live}} In 1923, his son Robert W. Woodruff was elected President of the company. Woodruff expanded the company and brought Coca-Cola to the rest of the world. Coca-Cola began distributing bottles as "Six-packs", encouraging customers to purchase the beverage for their home.{{Cite journal |last1=Wood |first1=Benjamin |last2=Ruskin |first2=Gary |last3=Sacks |first3=Gary |date=January 2020 |title=How Coca-Cola Shaped the International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health: An Analysis of Email Exchanges between 2012 and 2014 |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |language=en |volume=17 |issue=23 |pages=8996 |doi=10.3390/ijerph17238996 |issn=1660-4601 |pmc=7730322 |pmid=33287097 |doi-access=free }}

During its first several decades, Coca-Cola officially wanted to be known by its full-name despite being commonly known as "Coke". This was due to company fears that the term "coke" would eventually become a generic trademark, which to an extent became true in the Southern United States where "coke" is used even for non Coca-Cola products. The company also didn't want to confuse its drink with the similarly named coal byproduct that clearly wasn't safe to consume. Eventually, out for fears that another company may claim the trademark for "Coke", Coca-Cola finally embraced it and officially endorsed the name "Coke" in 1941. "Coke" eventually became a registered trademark of the Coca-Cola Company in 1945.{{cite web | url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/talk-town/world-coke-exhibit-shares-story-forgotten-sprite-boy/soMnt1rHQd9j5JxpyZeuML/ | title=World of Coke exhibit shares story of forgotten 'Sprite Boy' | access-date=April 2, 2023 | archive-date=April 2, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402005821/https://www.ajc.com/blog/talk-town/world-coke-exhibit-shares-story-forgotten-sprite-boy/soMnt1rHQd9j5JxpyZeuML/ | url-status=live }}

In 1986, the Coca-Cola Company merged with two of their bottling operators (owned by JTL Corporation and BCI Holding Corporation) to form Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE).{{cite web|url=http://www.cokecce.com/about-cce/our-story|title=Coca-Cola Enterprises : Our Story|publisher=Coca-Cola Enterprises|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150417095329/http://www.cokecce.com/about-cce/our-story|archive-date=April 17, 2015}}

In December 1991, Coca-Cola Enterprises merged with the Johnston Coca-Cola Bottling Group, Inc.

File:Commercial. At the Coca Cola Plant BAnQ P48S1P06539.jpg, Canada]]

The first bottling of Coca-Cola occurred in Vicksburg, Mississippi, at the Biedenharn Candy Company on March 12, 1894.{{cite web|url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/history-of-bottling|title=History of Bottling|author=The Coca-Cola Company|access-date=March 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234350/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/history-of-bottling|archive-date=January 16, 2013|url-status=live}} The proprietor of the bottling works was Joseph A. Biedenharn.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/mar12/first-bottles-coca-cola/|title=Mar 12, 1894 CE: First Bottles of Coca-Cola|date=December 17, 2013|work=National Geographic Society|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604175453/https://www.nationalgeographic.org/thisday/mar12/first-bottles-coca-cola/|archive-date=June 4, 2016|access-date=March 12, 2019}} The original bottles were Hutchinson bottles, very different from the much later hobble-skirt design of 1915 now so familiar.

A few years later two entrepreneurs from Chattanooga, Tennessee, namely Benjamin F. Thomas and Joseph B. Whitehead, proposed the idea of bottling and were so persuasive that Candler signed a contract giving them control of the procedure for only one dollar. Candler later realized that he had made a grave mistake.{{cite web|title=Coca-Cola History|website=worldofcoca-cola.com|url=https://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/about-us/coca-cola-history|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407225546/http://www.worldofcoca-cola.com/about-us/coca-cola-history/|archive-date=April 7, 2016|url-status=live}} Candler never collected his dollar, but in 1899, Chattanooga became the site of the first Coca-Cola bottling company. Candler remained very content just selling his company's syrup.{{cite web |url=http://cocacolaunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/HISTORY-OF-CHATTANOOGA-COCA-COLA-WORLDS-FIRST-BOTTLING-COMPANY.pdf |title=Chattanooga Coca-Cola History |access-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201213538/http://cocacolaunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/HISTORY-OF-CHATTANOOGA-COCA-COLA-WORLDS-FIRST-BOTTLING-COMPANY.pdf |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |url-status=live }} The loosely termed contract proved to be problematic for the Coca-Cola Company for decades to come. Legal matters were not helped by the decision of the bottlers to subcontract to other companies, effectively becoming parent bottlers.{{cite web |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/history-of-bottling |title=History Of Bottling |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234350/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/history-of-bottling |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |url-status=dead }} This contract specified that bottles would be sold at 5¢ each and had no fixed duration, leading to the fixed price of Coca-Cola from 1886 to 1959.

The first outdoor wall advertisement that promoted the Coca-Cola drink was painted in 1894 in Cartersville, Georgia.[http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2DK6 First painted wall sign to advertise Coca-Cola : Cartersville, GA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324232658/http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2DK6 |date=March 24, 2010 }} – Waymarking Cola syrup was sold as an over-the-counter dietary supplement for upset stomach.Staff, The Doctors Book of Home Remedies. [http://www.guidetohealth.com/library/the-doctors-book-of-home-remedies/nausea/ Nausea: 10 Stomach-Soothing Solutions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524174753/http://www.guidetohealth.com/library/the-doctors-book-of-home-remedies/nausea/ |date=May 24, 2013 }}Example: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110224015437/http://www.drugstore.com/flents-cola-syrup/qxp80274 Flent's Cola Syrup] Label says "For Simple Nausea associated with an upset stomach.* *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." By the time of its 50th anniversary, the soft drink had reached the status of a national icon in the US. In 1935, it was certified kosher by Atlanta rabbi Tobias Geffen. With the help of Harold Hirsch, Geffen was the first person outside the company to see the top-secret ingredients list after Coke faced scrutiny from the American Jewish population regarding the drink's kosher status.{{cite web |title=Atlanta Jews and Coca-Cola |url=https://www.bh.org.il/atlanta-jews-and-coca-cola/ |access-date=June 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821062611/https://www.bh.org.il/atlanta-jews-and-coca-cola/ |archive-date=August 21, 2018 |url-status=live }} Consequently, the company made minor changes in the sourcing of some ingredients so it could continue to be consumed by America's Jewish population, including during Passover.{{cite web|url=http://www.ajhs.org/scholarship/chapters/chapter.cfm?documentID=270|title=Beyond Seltzer Water: The Kashering of Coca-Cola|publisher=American Jewish Historical Society|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917045652/http://www.ajhs.org/scholarship/chapters/chapter.cfm?documentID=270|archive-date=September 17, 2010|access-date=February 26, 2007}} A yellow cap on a Coca-Cola drink indicates that it is kosher for Passover.{{cite web |title=If You See a Yellow Cap on Coca-Cola, This Is What It Means |author=Melany Love |date=August 31, 2023 |website=Reader's Digest |url=https://www.rd.com/article/coca-cola-yellow-cap/}}

File:1BILLIONTHgallonCOCACOLAowner.jpg

File:FLEEMANSpharmacyCOKErwLIPACKowner.jpg

The longest running commercial Coca-Cola soda fountain anywhere was Atlanta's Fleeman's Pharmacy, which first opened its doors in 1914.{{cite web|url=http://www.bellystore.com/BELLYSTORE/history.htm|title=Fleeman's Pharmacy (now the Belly General Store)|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031217184412/http://www.bellystore.com/BELLYSTORE/history.htm|archive-date=December 17, 2003}} Jack Fleeman took over the pharmacy from his father and ran it until 1995; closing it after 81 years.{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/jack-fleeman-owner-landmark-drugstore/BXly9zmIFesfhJRMYnt0qM/|title=Jack Fleeman – 86 – Owner|date=August 17, 2009|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|location=Georgia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110115403/http://www.ajc.com/news/jack-fleeman-86-owner-117848.html|archive-date=November 10, 2012}} On July 12, 1944, the one-billionth gallon of Coca-Cola syrup was manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. Cans of Coke first appeared in 1955.{{cite web |url=http://home.comcast.net/~collectiblesodacans/Cokepg1.htm |title=Coke Can History |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530045557/http://home.comcast.net/~collectiblesodacans/Cokepg1.htm |archive-date=May 30, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

{{See also|1970s commodities boom}}

Sugar prices spiked in the 1970s because of Soviet demand/hoarding and possible futures contracts market manipulation. The Soviet Union was the largest producer of sugar at the time. In 1974 Coca-Cola switched over to high-fructose corn syrup because of the elevated prices.{{cite web | url=https://www.winton.com/longer-view/the-sweet-and-sour-history-of-sugar-prices | title=A History of Sugar Prices | access-date=September 2, 2022 | archive-date=September 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901083635/https://www.winton.com/longer-view/the-sweet-and-sour-history-of-sugar-prices | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/05/archives/sugar-futures-up-on-soviet-buying-purchases-on-world-market-said-to.html | title=Sugar Futures up on Soviet Buying | newspaper=The New York Times | date=January 5, 1972 | last1=Ennis | first1=Thomas W. | access-date=September 2, 2022 | archive-date=September 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901083638/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/05/archives/sugar-futures-up-on-soviet-buying-purchases-on-world-market-said-to.html | url-status=live }}

File:Sugar Prices 1962-2022.webp

{{Main|New Coke}}

File:World-of-coca-cola.jpg World of Coca-Cola museum in 2003]]

On April 23, 1985, Coca-Cola, amid much publicity, changed the formula of the drink with "New Coke". Follow-up taste tests revealed most consumers preferred the taste of New Coke to both old Coke and Pepsi{{cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1913612_1913610_1913608,00.html|title=New Coke – Top 10 Bad Beverage Ideas|date=April 23, 2010|magazine=Time|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121111728/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1913612_1913610_1913608,00.html|archive-date=November 21, 2019|url-status=live}} but Coca-Cola management was unprepared for the public's nostalgia for the old drink, leading to a backlash. The company gave in to protests and returned to the old formula under the name Coca-Cola Classic, on July 10, 1985. "New Coke" remained available and was renamed Coke II in 1992; it was discontinued in 2002.

On July 5, 2005, it was revealed that Coca-Cola would resume operations in Iraq for the first time since the Arab League boycotted the company in 1968.{{cite news |author=Rory Carroll in Baghdad |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jul/05/iraq.rorycarroll |title=Cola wars as Coke moves on Baghdad |work=The Guardian |date=July 5, 2005 |access-date=March 13, 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621193954/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jul/05/iraq.rorycarroll |archive-date=June 21, 2018 |url-status=live }}

In April 2007, in Canada, the name "Coca-Cola Classic" was changed back to "Coca-Cola". The word "Classic" was removed because "New Coke" was no longer in production, eliminating the need to differentiate between the two.{{Cite web |title=Compare Coca-Cola and Pepsi's marketing strategies |url=https://www.ukessays.com/essays/business-strategy/coca-cola-company.php |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=www.ukessays.com |language=en-gb}} The formula remained unchanged. In January 2009, Coca-Cola stopped printing the word "Classic" on the labels of {{convert|16|USfloz|ml|adj=on}} bottles sold in parts of the southeastern United States.{{cite news |title=Coke to Omit 'Classic' |first=Betsy |last=McKay |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 30, 2009 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123332768434033495 |access-date=June 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521052905/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123332768434033495 |archive-date=May 21, 2020 |url-status=live }} The change was part of a larger strategy to rejuvenate the product's image. The word "Classic" was removed from all Coca-Cola products by 2011.

In November 2009, due to a dispute over wholesale prices of Coca-Cola products, Costco stopped restocking its shelves with Coke and Diet Coke for two months; a separate pouring rights deal in 2013 saw Coke products removed from Costco food courts in favor of Pepsi.{{cite news|url=http://www.bevnet.com/news/2013/pepsicos-in-the-club-store-that-is-capturing-costco-food-service-account|title=PepsiCo's in the Club... Store, that is, Capturing Costco Food Service Account|last=Klinemann|first=Jeffrey|date=January 31, 2013|publisher=BevNET|access-date=April 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320120650/http://www.bevnet.com/news/2013/pepsicos-in-the-club-store-that-is-capturing-costco-food-service-account|archive-date=March 20, 2015|url-status=live}} Some Costco locations (such as the ones in Tucson, Arizona) additionally sell imported Coca-Cola from Mexico with cane sugar instead of corn syrup from separate distributors.{{cite news|last1=Fredrix |first1=Emily |first2=Sarah |last2=Skidmore |title=Costco nixes Coke products over pricing dispute |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hC_n50ZLyl8FLDBIkGfCn7-110BwD9C1F1C80 |work=Google News |agency=Associated Press |date=November 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091120184311/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hC_n50ZLyl8FLDBIkGfCn7-110BwD9C1F1C80 |archive-date=November 20, 2009}} Coca-Cola introduced the 7.5-ounce mini-can in 2009, and on September 22, 2011, the company announced price reductions, asking retailers to sell eight-packs for $2.99. That same day, Coca-Cola announced the 12.5-ounce bottle, to sell for 89 cents. A 16-ounce bottle has sold well at 99 cents since being re-introduced, but the price was going up to $1.19.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111903374004576578980270401662|title=Coke Tailors Its Soda Sizes|last=Esterl|first=Mike|date=September 19, 2011|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=December 19, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219171247/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111903374004576578980270401662|archive-date=December 19, 2019|url-status=live}}

In 2012, Coca-Cola resumed business in Myanmar after 60 years of absence due to US-imposed investment sanctions against the country.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18453401 | title=Coca-Cola returns to Burma after a 60-year absence | date=June 14, 2012 | work=BBC News | access-date=June 8, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022233834/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18453401 | archive-date=October 22, 2018 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-15/coca-cola-announces-will-return-to-myanmar-after-60-years.html | title=Coca-Cola Announces Will Return to Myanmar After 60 Years | publisher=Bloomberg | date=June 14, 2012 | first=Tony | last=Jordan | access-date=June 8, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211014652/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-15/coca-cola-announces-will-return-to-myanmar-after-60-years.html | archive-date=December 11, 2014 | url-status=live }} Coca-Cola's bottling plant is located in Yangon and is part of the company's five-year plan and $200 million investment in Myanmar.{{cite web|url=http://investvine.com/coca-cola-starts-bottling-in-myanmar/|title=Coca-Cola starts bottling in Myanmar|first=Justin|last=Calderon|work=Inside Investor|date=June 4, 2013|access-date=June 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918184353/http://investvine.com/coca-cola-starts-bottling-in-myanmar/|archive-date=September 18, 2013|url-status=live}} Coca-Cola with its partners is to invest US$5 billion in its operations in India by 2020.{{cite news | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/coca-cola-to-invest-rs-28-000-cr-in-india/966950/ | title=Coca-Cola to invest Rs 28,000 cr in India | date=June 26, 2012 | access-date=June 8, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917151332/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/coca-cola-to-invest-rs-28-000-cr-in-india/966950/ | archive-date=September 17, 2013 | url-status=live }}

In February 2021, as a plan to combat plastic waste, Coca-Cola said that it would start selling its sodas in bottles made from 100% recycled plastic material in the United States, and by 2030 planned to recycle one bottle or can for each one it sold.{{Cite news|date=February 9, 2021|title=Coca-Cola turns to 100% recycled plastic bottles in U.S.|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-plastic-coca-cola-idUSKBN2A921L|access-date=February 9, 2021|archive-date=February 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207101346/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-plastic-coca-cola-idUSKBN2A921L|url-status=live}} Coca-Cola started by selling 2000 paper bottles to see if they held up due to the risk of safety and of changing the taste of the drink.{{Cite news|date=February 12, 2021|title=Coca-Cola company trials first paper bottle|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56023723|access-date=February 12, 2021|archive-date=July 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710101145/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56023723|url-status=live}}

• Carbonated water
• Sugar (sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) depending on country of origin)
• Caffeine
• Phosphoric acid
• Caramel color (E150d)
• Natural flavorings{{cite web|url=http://www.letsgettogether.co.uk/DetailQuestionAnswer/QuestionID=2-color=df0f0b |title=Home of Coca-Cola UK : Diet Coke : Coke Zero – Coca-Cola GB |publisher=Letsgettogether.co.uk |date=April 13, 2010 |access-date=March 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515103118/http://www.letsgettogether.co.uk/DetailQuestionAnswer/QuestionID%3D2-color%3Ddf0f0b |archive-date=May 15, 2010 |url-status=dead }}

A typical can of Coca-Cola (12 fl ounces/355 ml) contains 39 grams of sugar,{{cite web|url=http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list?qlookup=14400|title=Foods List|work=usda.gov|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119223520/https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/search/list?qlookup=14400|archive-date=November 19, 2018|url-status=dead}} 46 mg of caffeine, 50 mg of sodium, no fat, no potassium, and 140 calories.{{cite web |url=http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/coca-cola/coca-cola-classic-12 oz-can |title=The Daily Plate |publisher=The Daily Plate |access-date=March 13, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Main|Coca-Cola formula}}

The exact formula for Coca-Cola's natural flavorings is a trade secret. (All of its other ingredients are listed on the side of the bottle or can, and are not secret.) The original copy of the formula was held in Truist Financial's main vault in Atlanta for 86 years. Its predecessor, the Trust Company, was the underwriter for the Coca-Cola Company's initial public offering in 1919. On December 8, 2011, the original secret formula was moved from the vault at SunTrust Banks into a new vault; this vault will be on display for visitors to its World of Coca-Cola museum in downtown Atlanta.{{Cite journal | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/1208/Coca-Cola-formula-after-86-years-in-vault-gets-new-home | title=Coca-Cola formula, after 86 years in vault, gets new home | journal=The Christian Science Monitor | date=December 8, 2011 | access-date=June 8, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124075036/https://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/1208/Coca-Cola-formula-after-86-years-in-vault-gets-new-home | archive-date=January 24, 2020 | url-status=live }}

File:Coke Museum.JPG

According to Snopes, a popular myth states that only two executives have access to the formula, with each executive having only half the formula.{{cite web |url=http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/ |title=Urban Legends Reference Pages: Cokelore |access-date=February 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20081218031122/http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/ |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |url-status=dead }} However, several sources state that while Coca-Cola does have a rule restricting access to only two executives, each of them knows the entire formula, and that persons other than the prescribed duo have known the formulation process.{{cite web |url=http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/formula.asp |title=Urban Legends Reference Pages: Cokelore (Have a Cloak and a Smile) |date=November 18, 1999 |access-date=February 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20051201022606/http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/formula.asp |archive-date=December 1, 2005 |url-status=live }}

On February 11, 2011, Ira Glass said on his PRI radio show, This American Life, that his staffers had found a recipe in "Everett Beal's Recipe Book", reproduced in the February 28, 1979 issue of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that they believed was either Pemberton's original formula for Coca-Cola or a version that he made either before or after the product hit the market in 1886. The formula basically matched the one found in Pemberton's diary.{{cite web |first=Katie |last=Rogers |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/02/this_american_life_bursts_coca.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609050804/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/02/this_american_life_bursts_coca.html |archive-date=June 9, 2012 |title='This American Life' bursts Coca-Cola's bubble: What's in that original recipe, anyway? |work=The Washington Post |date=February 15, 2011 |access-date=February 16, 2011}}{{cite web |first=Brett Michael |last=Dykes |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110215/ts_yblog_thelookout/did-nprs-this-american-life-discover-cokes-secret-formula |url-status=dead |title=Did NPR's 'This American Life' discover Coke's secret formula? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217232118/http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110215/ts_yblog_thelookout/did-nprs-this-american-life-discover-cokes-secret-formula |archive-date=February 17, 2011 |work=The Lookout |via=Yahoo! News |date=February 15, 2011}}{{cite web |first=David W. |last=Freeman |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/this-american-life-reveals-coca-colas-secret-recipe-full-ingredient-list/ |title='This American Life' Reveals Coca-Cola's Secret Recipe (Full Ingredient List) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218030813/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20031984-10391704.html |archive-date=February 18, 2011 |work=CBS News |date=February 15, 2011}} Coca-Cola archivist Phil Mooney acknowledged that the recipe "could be a precursor" to the formula used in the original 1886 product, but emphasized that Pemberton's original formula is not the same as the one used in the modern product.{{cite web |url=http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/427/original-recipe/recipe |title=The Recipe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217180930/http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/427/original-recipe/recipe |archive-date=February 17, 2011 |url-status=live |work=This American Life |date=February 11, 2011}}.

Joya Williams, a secretary to the global brand director at Coca-Cola's Atlanta headquarters, stole the formula. Williams, along with her accomplices Ibrahim Dimson and Edmund Duhaney, conspired to sell the confidential trade secret to Pepsi for $1.5 million USD. However, Pepsi did not capitalize on the opportunity and instead reported the illegal offer to Coca-Cola and the FBI. The FBI setup a sting operation posing as Pepsi executives, leading to the arrest of Williams and her accomplices.{{cite web |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/coca-cola-insider-tried-selling-secrets-to-pepsi-what-happened-next-6778659 |title=Coca-Cola Insider Tried Selling Secrets To Pepsi. What Happened Next |work=NDTV |date=October 13, 2024 |access-date=March 11, 2025}} Public prosecutor David Nahmias praised Pepsi for doing the right thing: "They did so because trade secrets are important to everybody in the business community. They realise that if their trade secrets are violated, they all suffer, the market suffers and the community suffers."{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jul/07/marketingandpr.drink |title=The real sting: how plot to betray Coke fell flat after Pepsi called in FBI |work=The Guardian |last=Clark |first=Andrew |date=July 7, 2006 |access-date=March 11, 2025}}

{{anchor|Coca_–_cocaine}}

File:Pembertoncokeanzeige.jpg

When launched, Coca-Cola's two key ingredients were cocaine and caffeine. The cocaine was derived from the coca leaf and the caffeine from kola nut (also spelled "cola nut" at the time), leading to the name Coca-Cola.{{cite web |url=http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0204.htm |title=Coca-cola |publisher=Pponline.co.uk |access-date=March 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115102804/http://www.pponline.co.uk/encyc/0204.htm |archive-date=November 15, 2009 }}{{cite web |url=http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/coca_cola.htm |title=The History of Coca-Cola |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090315195846/http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/coca_cola.htm |archive-date=March 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 23, 2007 }}

Pemberton called for five ounces of coca leaf per gallon of syrup (approximately 37 g/L), a significant dose; in 1891, Candler claimed his formula (altered extensively from Pemberton's original) contained only a tenth of this amount. Coca-Cola once contained an estimated nine milligrams of cocaine per glass. (For comparison, a typical dose or "line" of cocaine is 50–75 mg.{{cite web|url=http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/cocaine/faq.htm|title=Cocaine Facts - How to Tell Use of Cocaine - Questions, Myths, Truth|website=thegooddrugsguide.com|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006104725/http://www.thegooddrugsguide.com/cocaine/faq.htm|archive-date=October 6, 2008|url-status=live}}) In 1903, the fresh coca leaves were removed from the formula.Liebowitz, Michael, R. (1983). The Chemistry of Love. Boston: Little, Brown, & Co.

After 1904, instead of using fresh leaves, Coca-Cola started using "spent" leaves – the leftovers of the cocaine-extraction process with trace levels of cocaine.{{cite web |url=http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_033.html |title=Is it true Coca-Cola once contained cocaine? |access-date=February 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221114907/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_033.html |archive-date=February 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |date=June 14, 1985}} Since then (by 1929{{Cite web|url=https://archives.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/coca-colas-scandalous-past|title=Coca-Cola's Scandalous Past|date=March 1, 2012|access-date=March 29, 2022|archive-date=March 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324032927/https://archives.drugabuse.gov/blog/post/coca-colas-scandalous-past|url-status=dead}}), Coca-Cola has used a cocaine-free coca leaf extract. Today, that extract is prepared at a Stepan Company plant in Maywood, New Jersey, the only manufacturing plant authorized by the federal government to import and process coca leaves, which it obtains from Peru and Bolivia.{{cite news|last=May|first=Clifford D.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/01/business/how-coca-cola-obtains-its-coca.html|title=How Coca-Cola Obtains Its Coca|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 1, 1988|access-date=April 11, 2008|quote=A Stepan laboratory in Maywood, N.J., is the nation's only legal commercial importer of coca leaves, which it obtains mainly from Peru and, to a lesser extent, Bolivia. Besides producing the coca flavoring agent sold to The Coca-Cola Company, Stepan extracts cocaine from the coca leaves, which it sells to Mallinckrodt Inc., a St. Louis pharmaceutical manufacturer that is the only company in the United States licensed to purify the product for medicinal use|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420232528/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/07/01/business/how-coca-cola-obtains-its-coca.html|archive-date=April 20, 2019|url-status=live}} Stepan Company extracts cocaine from the coca leaves, which it then sells to Mallinckrodt, the only company in the United States licensed to purify cocaine for medicinal use.{{cite news |first=Drew |last=Benson |title=Coca kick in drinks spurs export fears |url=http://www.mindfully.org/Food/2004/Kdrink-Coca-Drink19apr04.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530045600/http://www.mindfully.org/Food/2004/Kdrink-Coca-Drink19apr04.htm |archive-date=May 30, 2012 }}

Long after the syrup had ceased to contain any significant amount of cocaine, in North Carolina "dope" remained a common colloquialism for Coca-Cola, and "dope-wagons" were trucks that transported it.{{cite web|url=http://ncpedia.org/dope-wagons|title=Dope Wagons|work=ncpedia.org|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202113220/https://ncpedia.org/dope-wagons|archive-date=February 2, 2020|url-status=live}}

The kola nut acts as a flavoring and the original source of caffeine in Coca-Cola. It contains about 2.0 to 3.5% caffeine, and has a bitter flavor.

In 1911, the US government sued in United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola, hoping to force the Coca-Cola Company to remove caffeine from its formula. The court found that the syrup, when diluted as directed, would result in a beverage containing 1.21 grains (or 78.4 mg) of caffeine per {{convert|8|USfloz|ml}} serving.{{caselaw source

| case = United States v. Forty Barrels & Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola, {{ussc|241|265|1916|el=no}}

| courtlistener =https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/98742/united-states-v-coca-cola-co-of-atlanta/

| findlaw = https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/241/265.html

| justia =https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/241/265/

| loc =http://cdn.loc.gov/service/ll/usrep/usrep241/usrep241265/usrep241265.pdf

}} The case was decided in favor of the Coca-Cola Company at the district court, but subsequently in 1912, the US Pure Food and Drug Act was amended, adding caffeine to the list of "habit-forming" and "deleterious" substances which must be listed on a product's label. In 1913 the case was appealed to the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, where the ruling was affirmed, but then appealed again in 1916 to the Supreme Court, where the government effectively won as a new trial was ordered. The company then voluntarily reduced the amount of caffeine in its product, and offered to pay the government's legal costs to settle and avoid further litigation.

Coca-Cola contains 46 mg of caffeine per 12 US fluid ounces (or 30.7 mg per {{convert|8|USfloz|ml}} serving).{{cite book| author = Gene A. Spiller| title = Caffeine |chapter=Appendix 1: Caffein Content of Some Cola Beverages| chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=WxmBmvhsoZ8C&q=caffeine+coca+cola&pg=PA363| year = 1998| publisher = CRC| isbn = 978-0-8493-2647-9| access-date = October 17, 2020| archive-date = April 23, 2023| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230423112347/https://books.google.com/books?id=WxmBmvhsoZ8C&q=caffeine+coca+cola&pg=PA363| url-status = live}}

The production and distribution of Coca-Cola follows a franchising model. The Coca-Cola Company only produces a syrup concentrate, which it sells to bottlers throughout the world, who hold Coca-Cola franchises for one or more geographical areas. The bottlers produce the final drink by mixing the syrup with filtered water and sweeteners, putting the mixture into cans and bottles, and carbonating it, which the bottlers then sell and distribute to retail stores, vending machines, restaurants, and foodservice distributors.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/ourcompany/aboutbottling.html |title=Offices & Bottling Plants |access-date=January 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070216144908/http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/ourcompany/aboutbottling.html |archive-date=February 16, 2007 |url-status=dead }}

The Coca-Cola Company owns minority shares in some of its largest franchises, such as Coca-Cola Enterprises, Coca-Cola Amatil, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, and Coca-Cola FEMSA, as well as some smaller ones, such as Coca-Cola Bottlers Uzbekistan, but fully independent bottlers produce almost half of the volume sold in the world.

Independent bottlers are allowed to sweeten the drink according to local tastes.{{cite web |url=http://www.cokecce.com/pages/allContent.asp?page_id=84#q1 |title=What Is the Difference Between Coca-Cola Enterprises and the Coca-Cola Company |access-date=December 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021100615/http://cokecce.com/pages/allContent.asp?page_id=84 |archive-date=October 21, 2012}}

Coca-Cola has been sold outside the United States as early as the turn of the 20th century, as the drink was first sold in Britain on 31 August 1900 and the Cuba Libre (a mix between Coca-Cola and rum) was created in Havana shortly after the Spanish-American War of 1898. However, the international reach of the product became mostly limited to North and Central America, the Caribbean, Western Europe and parts of Asia until the 1940s, when the brand was introduced throughout South America and then Europe after the end of World War II (Fanta was initially conceived by the German Coca-Cola subsidiary as an emergency replacement as the wartime trade embargo prevented the import of syrup). As a result, Coca-Cola eventually became regarded as one of the major symbols of American soft power as well as of globalization.

Since it announced its intention to begin distribution in Myanmar in June 2012, Coca-Cola has been officially available in every country in the world except Cuba (where it stopped being available officially since 1960—ironically, Coca-Cola's first bottling plant outside the United States was established there in 1906) and North Korea.{{cite news|title=Coca-Cola to spend $30 billion to grow globally|first=Leon|last=Stafford|url=https://www.ajc.com/business/coca-cola-spend-billion-grow-globally/w9gISxxV0dkJOQAZrnUOdM/|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=September 9, 2012|access-date=June 8, 2021|archive-date=March 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321181035/https://www.ajc.com/business/coca-cola-spend-billion-grow-globally/w9gISxxV0dkJOQAZrnUOdM/|url-status=live}} However, it is reported to be available in both countries as a grey import.{{cite news |title= Cuba stocks US brands despite embargo |last= Weissert |first= Will |agency= Associated Press |url= http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/2007-05-14-1080210184_x.htm |date= May 15, 2007 |access-date= August 11, 2013 |work= USA Today |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160313015718/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/economy/2007-05-14-1080210184_x.htm |archive-date= March 13, 2016 |url-status= live }}{{cite news |title= Coca-Cola denies 'cracking' North Korea |last= Ryall |first= Julian |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9511235/Coca-Cola-denies-cracking-North-Korea.html |newspaper= The Telegraph |date= August 31, 2012 |access-date= August 11, 2013 |location= London |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130906214111/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9511235/Coca-Cola-denies-cracking-North-Korea.html |archive-date= September 6, 2013 |url-status= live }} As of 2022, Coca-Cola has suspended its operations in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine.{{cite news |last1=Wiener-Bronner |first1=Danielle |title=McDonald's, Starbucks and Coca-Cola leave Russia |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/08/business/mcdonalds-pepsi-coke-russia/index.html |access-date=July 7, 2023 |agency=CNN Business |date=March 9, 2022}}

Coca-Cola has been a point of legal discussion in the Middle East. In the early 20th century, a fatwa was created in Egypt to discuss the question of "whether Muslims were permitted to drink Coca-Cola and Pepsi cola."{{cite book|last=Liebesny|first=Herbert J.|title=The law of the Near and Middle East readings, cases, and materials|url=https://archive.org/details/lawofnearmiddlee0000lieb|url-access=registration|year=1975|publisher=State University of New York Press|location=Albany|pages=[https://archive.org/details/lawofnearmiddlee0000lieb/page/42 42]–43|isbn=9780585090207}} The fatwa states: "According to the Muslim Hanefite, Shafi'ite, etc., the rule in Islamic law of forbidding or allowing foods and beverages is based on the presumption that such things are permitted unless it can be shown that they are forbidden on the basis of the Qur'an." The Muslim jurists stated that, unless the Qur'an specifically prohibits the consumption of a particular product, it is permissible to consume. Another clause was discussed, whereby the same rules apply if a person is unaware of the condition or ingredients of the item in question.

Coca-Cola first entered the Chinese market in the 1920s with no localized representation of its name.{{Cite web |date=April 5, 1999 |title=Bite the Wax Tadpole |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bite-the-wax-tadpole/ |access-date=July 14, 2023 |website=Snopes |language=en}} While the company researched a satisfactory translation, local shopkeepers created their own. These produced the desired "ko-ka ko-la" sound, but with odd meanings such as "female horse fastened with wax" or "bite the wax tadpole". In the 1930s, the company settled on the name "{{lang|zh-hant|可口可樂}}（{{lang|zh-hans|可口可乐}}）" (Ke-kou ke-le) taking into account the effects of syllable and meaning translations. The phrase means roughly "to allow the mouth to be able to rejoice".{{Cite web |title=Transliteration of 'Coca-Cola' Trademark to Chinese Characters |url=http://atisaustralia.weebly.com/1/post/2015/08/transliteration-of-coca-cola-trademark-to-chinese-characters.html |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=ATIS - Australian Translating and Interpreting Service |language=en |archive-date=May 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522081707/https://atisaustralia.weebly.com/atis-blog/transliteration-of-coca-cola-trademark-to-chinese-characters |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=Coca-Cola in Chinese is Ke-kou-ke-la |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/business-jokes/coca-cola-in-chinese-is-ke-kou-ke-la/articleshow/623585.cms |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=The Economic Times |archive-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630095421/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/business-jokes/coca-cola-in-chinese-is-ke-kou-ke-la/articleshow/623585.cms |url-status=live }} The story introduction from Coca-Cola mentions that Chiang Yee provided the new localized name,{{Cite web |script-title=zh:"可口可乐"—— 中文翻译的经典之作 |url=https://www.coca-cola.com.cn/stories/kkklzwfydjdzz |url-status=dead |access-date=September 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918160536/https://www.coca-cola.com.cn/stories/kkklzwfydjdzz |archive-date=September 18, 2018 }} but there are also sources that the localized name appeared before 1935,{{Cite web |script-title=zh:鄭明仁：「可口可樂」中文名稱翻譯之謎 |url=https://www.thinkhk.com/article/2021-01/11/46280.html |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=www.thinkhk.com |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115205723/https://www.thinkhk.com/article/2021-01/11/46280.html |url-status=live }} or that it was given by someone named Jerome T. Lieu who studied at Columbia University in New York.{{Cite journal |title="Placing the history of advertising": A spatial history of advertising in modern Shanghai (1905-1949) |url=https://purl.stanford.edu/vr090fm8620 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |website=purl.stanford.edu |language=en |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714012804/https://purl.stanford.edu/vr090fm8620 |url-status=live |last1=Armand |first1=Cécile }}

File:Coke logo.svg

This is a list of variants of Coca-Cola introduced around the world. In addition to the caffeine-free version of the original, additional fruit flavors have been included over the years. Not included here are versions of Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar; these variant versions of those no-calorie colas can be found in their respective articles.

The Coca-Cola logo was created by John Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Mason Robinson, in 1885.{{cite web |url=http://inventors.about.com/od/advertisingmedia/ss/Coca_Cola_Comp_2.htm |title=Coca-Cola Company – Red Spencerian Script |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090315204551/http://inventors.about.com/od/advertisingmedia/ss/Coca_Cola_Comp_2.htm |archive-date=March 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 11, 2007 }} Robinson came up with the name and chose the logo's distinctive cursive script. The writing style used, known as Spencerian script, was developed in the mid-19th century and was the dominant form of formal handwriting in the United States during that period.{{Cite web |url=https://www.coca-colajourney.com.au/stories/trace-the-130-year-evolution-of-the-coca-cola-logo |title=The 130-year Evolution of the Coca-Cola logo |website=The Coca-Cola Company |language=en-AU |access-date=July 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723182155/https://www.coca-colajourney.com.au/stories/trace-the-130-year-evolution-of-the-coca-cola-logo |archive-date=July 23, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Robinson also played a significant role in early Coca-Cola advertising. His promotional suggestions to Pemberton included giving away thousands of free drink coupons and plastering the city of Atlanta with publicity banners and streetcar signs.{{cite web|url=http://coca-cola-art.com/2008/06/05/frank-robinson/|title=Frank Robinson, creator of the Coca-Cola logo|date=June 5, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127042828/http://coca-cola-art.com/2008/06/05/frank-robinson/|archive-date=January 27, 2009|access-date=December 15, 2008}}

Coca-Cola came under scrutiny in Egypt in 1951 because of a conspiracy theory that the Coca-Cola logo, when reflected in a mirror, spells out "No Mohammed no Mecca" in Arabic.{{cite web|author=Kamdar, Ismail|title=Of Wa-Hubbies and Conspiracies|website=Muslim Matters|date=March 23, 2011|url=http://muslimmatters.org/2011/03/23/of-wa-hubbies-and-conspiracies/|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200121031852/https://muslimmatters.org/2011/03/23/of-wa-hubbies-and-conspiracies/|archive-date=January 21, 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Rumor calls Coke logo anti-Muslim |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/05/22/rumor-calls-coke-logo-anti-muslim/ |access-date=March 20, 2024 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}

{{redirect|Coke bottle|the song|Coke Bottle (song)}}

File:EB1911 Cocoa - Branch of Cocoa Tree.jpg in the Encyclopædia Britannica]]

The Coca-Cola bottle, called the "contour bottle" within the company, was created by bottle designer Earl R. Dean and Coca-Cola's general counsel, Harold Hirsch. In 1915, the Coca-Cola Company was represented by their general counsel to launch a competition among its bottle suppliers as well as any competition entrants to create a new bottle for their beverage that would distinguish it from other beverage bottles, "a bottle which a person could recognize even if they felt it in the dark, and so shaped that, even if broken, a person could tell at a glance what it was."{{cite web|title=Inventory: Earl R. Dean Collection|url=http://www.vigo.lib.in.us/archives/inventories/business/dean.php|publisher=Vigo County Public Library|access-date=December 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608214022/http://www.vigo.lib.in.us/archives/inventories/business/dean.php|archive-date=June 8, 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/the-story-of-the-coca-cola-bottle | title=The Story of the Coca-Cola Bottle | publisher=Coca-Cola | date=February 26, 2015 | access-date=November 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119092136/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/the-story-of-the-coca-cola-bottle | archive-date=November 19, 2017 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://ccbanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/TBL_Spring-Summer_324.pdf | title=The Contour Bottle Celebrates Its 100th Birthday! | publisher=Coca-Cola Bottlers Association | date=2015 | access-date=November 20, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412085853/https://ccbanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/TBL_Spring-Summer_324.pdf | archive-date=April 12, 2019 | url-status=live }}{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bSAChoqpnHUC&q=harold+hirsch |last=Pendergrast |first=Mark |title=For God, Country, and Coca-Cola |publisher=Basic Books |year=2004 |page=104 |isbn=9780684826790 |access-date=June 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227142753/https://books.google.com/books?id=bSAChoqpnHUC&q=harold+hirsch#v=snippet&q=harold%20hirsch |archive-date=December 27, 2019 |url-status=live }}

Chapman J. Root, president of the Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, Indiana, turned the project over to members of his supervisory staff, including company auditor T. Clyde Edwards, plant superintendent Alexander Samuelsson, and Earl R. Dean, bottle designer and supervisor of the bottle molding room. Root and his subordinates decided to base the bottle's design on one of the soda's two ingredients, the coca leaf or the kola nut, but were unaware of what either ingredient looked like. Dean and Edwards went to the Emeline Fairbanks Memorial Library and were unable to find any information about coca or kola. Instead, Dean was inspired by a picture of the gourd-shaped cocoa pod in the Encyclopædia Britannica. Dean made a rough sketch of the pod and returned to the plant to show Root. He explained to Root how he could transform the shape of the pod into a bottle. Root gave Dean his approval.

Faced with the upcoming scheduled maintenance of the mold-making machinery, over the next 24 hours, Dean sketched out a concept drawing, which was approved by Root the next morning. Chapman Root approved the prototype bottle, and a design patent was issued on the bottle in November 1915. The prototype never made it to production since its middle diameter was larger than its base, making it unstable on conveyor belts. Dean resolved this issue by decreasing the bottle's middle diameter. During the 1916 bottler's convention, Dean's contour bottle was chosen over other entries and was on the market the same year. By 1920, the contour bottle became the standard for the Coca-Cola Company. A revised version was also patented in 1923. Because the Patent Office releases the Patent Gazette on Tuesday, the bottle was patented on December 25, 1923, and was nicknamed the "Christmas bottle". Today, the contour Coca-Cola bottle is one of the most recognized packages on the planet.

As a reward for his efforts, Dean was offered a choice between a $500 bonus or a lifetime job at The Root Glass Company. He chose the lifetime job and kept it until the Owens-Illinois Glass Company bought out The Root Glass Company in the mid-1930s. Dean went on to work in other Midwestern glass factories.{{cite book|author=Donna Gisolo Christenberry|title=Terre Haute: Farrington's Grove|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PN2HOJFxWRsC&pg=PA65|year=2011|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-8319-8|page=65|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223061941/https://books.google.com/books?id=PN2HOJFxWRsC&pg=PA65|archive-date=December 23, 2019|url-status=live}}

Raymond Loewy updated the design in 1955 to accommodate larger formats.{{Cite web

| title = The History Behind the Coca-Cola Bottle

| work = The Coca-Cola Company

| access-date = October 20, 2019

| url = https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/the-story-of-the-coca-cola-bottle

| quote = When King and Family sized packaging were introduced in 1955, Raymond Loewy was part of the team that worked to recast the bottle but still keep the proper proportions.

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190819164556/https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/the-story-of-the-coca-cola-bottle

| archive-date = August 19, 2019

| url-status = live

}} Misinterpretations of comments Loewy made on his involvement have given rise to a popular misconception, misattributing him as the original designer of the Coke bottle.{{Cite news |last=Bayley |first=Stephen |date=February 7, 2015 |title=The art of Coke |url=https://www.spectator.com.au/2015/02/happy-100th-birthday-to-a-pop-icon-the-coca-cola-bottle/ |access-date=June 19, 2024 |work=The Spectator}}{{Cite web |last=Mikkelson |first=Barbara |date=May 2, 1999 |title=Was the Coca-Cola Bottle Design an Accident? |url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/coke-bottle-design-accident/ |access-date=June 19, 2024 |website=Snopes}}

Others have attributed inspiration for the design not to the cocoa pod, but to a Victorian hooped dress.{{cite web |url=http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/bottle.asp |title=Snopes urban legend of the Coca-Cola bottle shape |website=Snopes.com |date=May 2, 1999 |access-date=March 13, 2011 |archive-date=January 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220118171338/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/coke-bottle-design-accident/ |url-status=live }}

In 1944, Associate Justice Roger J. Traynor of the Supreme Court of California took advantage of a case involving a waitress injured by an exploding Coca-Cola bottle to articulate the doctrine of strict liability for defective products. Traynor's concurring opinion in Escola v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. is widely recognized as a landmark case in US law today.{{cite book |last1=Friedman |first1=Lawrence M. |author-link1=Lawrence M. Friedman |title=American Law in the 20th Century |date=2004 |publisher=Yale University Press |location=New Haven |pages=356–357 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0kZNwJZxRr0C&pg=PA356 |isbn=9780300102994 |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423112323/https://books.google.com/books?id=0kZNwJZxRr0C&pg=PA356 |url-status=live }}{{cite journal|last1=O'Connell|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Linehan|first2=John|editor1-last=Carrington|editor1-first=Paul D.|editor2-last=Jones|editor2-first=Trina|title=The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again?) of Accident Law: A Continuing Saga|journal=Law and Class in America: Trends Since the Cold War|date=2006|pages=349–363|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dMMqAmkAyyYC&pg=PA353|access-date=February 12, 2017 |publisher=New York University Press |location=New York|isbn=9780814716540}}{{cite book|last1=Feinman|first1=Jay M.|title=Law 101|date=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=9780199341696|page=166|edition=4th|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7WfrAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA166}}{{cite book|last1=Vandall|first1=Frank J.|title=A History of Civil Litigation: Political and Economic Perspectives|date=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=9780199781096|page=27|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vw9pAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA27}}{{cite book |last1=Goldberg |first1=John C.P. |last2=Sebok |first2=Anthony J. |last3=Zipursky |first3=Benjamin C. |last4=Kendrick |first4=Leslie C. |title=Tort Law: Responsibilities and Redress |date=2021 |publisher=Wolters Kluwer |location=New York |isbn=9781543821086 |page=981 |edition=5th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U9UeEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1294 |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-date=April 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423112924/https://books.google.com/books?id=U9UeEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA981 |url-status=live }}

File:ContourBottleConceptSketch.jpg|Earl R. Dean's original 1915 concept drawing of the contour Coca-Cola bottle

File:1915 contour Coca-Cola contour bottle prototype.png|The prototype never made it to production since its middle diameter was larger than its base, making it unstable on conveyor belts.

File:Coca-Cola 1915 Contour bottle.jpg|Final production version with slimmer middle section

File:6 Coca-Cola bottles.jpg|Numerous historical Coke bottles

File:Madonna's Coca-Coca bottle (7961835112).jpg and inspired by American singer Madonna{{cite web|title=Couture Coke Bottles Inspired by Madonna|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/04/couture-coke-bottles-inspired-by-madonna|work=ABC News|first=Lauren|last=Torrisi|access-date=March 22, 2020|date=April 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323022520/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/04/couture-coke-bottles-inspired-by-madonna|archive-date=March 23, 2020|url-status=live}}]]

Karl Lagerfeld is the latest designer to have created a collection of aluminum bottles for Coca-Cola. Lagerfeld is not the first fashion designer to create a special version of the famous Coca-Cola Contour bottle. A number of other limited edition bottles by fashion designers for Coca-Cola Light soda have been created in the last few years, including Jean Paul Gaultier.

In 2009, in Italy, Coca-Cola Light had a Tribute to Fashion to celebrate 100 years of the recognizable contour bottle. Well known Italian designers Alberta Ferretti, Blumarine, Etro, Fendi, Marni, Missoni, Moschino, and Versace each designed limited edition bottles.{{cite web|url=http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2010/04/coca-cola-light-get-dressed-by-another.html|title=Coca-Cola Light Gets Dressed By Another Designer, Karl Lagerfeld|access-date=May 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721082512/http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2010/04/coca-cola-light-get-dressed-by-another.html|archive-date=July 21, 2011|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Coca-Cola shared the first beverage bottle made with ocean plastic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theinertia.com/environment/coca-cola-beverage-ocean-plastic-pollution/|title=Coca-Cola Unveils First Bottles Made With Recycled Ocean Plastic|last=Heyden|first=Dylan|website=The Inertia|date=October 9, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=October 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010021828/https://www.theinertia.com/environment/coca-cola-beverage-ocean-plastic-pollution/|archive-date=October 10, 2019|url-status=live}}

{{Clear}}

Pepsi, the flagship product of PepsiCo, the Coca-Cola Company's main rival in the soft drink industry, is usually second to Coke in sales, and outsells Coca-Cola in some markets. RC Cola, now owned by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the third-largest soft drink manufacturer, is also widely available.{{Cite news|date=February 4, 2003|title=Islamic cola launched in the UK|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2720803.stm|access-date=July 23, 2020|archive-date=March 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321181035/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2720803.stm|url-status=live}}

Around the world, many local brands compete with Coke. In South and Central America Kola Real, also known as Big Cola, is a growing competitor to Coca-Cola.{{cite news |first=Ricardo|last= Mireles |title= In Mexico, Big Cola is the real thing |url= http://www.logisticstoday.com/sNO/6366/iID/20876/LT/displayStory.asp|publisher=Logistics Today |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041109222153/http://www.logisticstoday.com/sNO/6366/iID/20876/LT/displayStory.asp |archive-date = November 9, 2004|url-status=dead}} On the French island of Corsica, Corsica Cola, made by brewers of the local Pietra beer, is a growing competitor to Coca-Cola. In the French region of Brittany, Breizh Cola is available. In Peru, Inca Kola outsells Coca-Cola, which led the Coca-Cola Company to purchase the brand in 1999. In Sweden, Julmust outsells Coca-Cola during the Christmas season.{{cite web|url=http://kristallbeverage.com/KBJulmust.html |title=About Kristall Beverage |access-date=January 31, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031219013722/http://kristallbeverage.com/KBJulmust.html |archive-date=December 19, 2003 }} In Scotland, the locally produced Irn-Bru was more popular than Coca-Cola until 2005, when Coca-Cola and Diet Coke began to outpace its sales.Murden, Terry (January 30, 2005). [https://web.archive.org/web/20050304094426/http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/business.cfm?id=112872005 Coke adds life to health drinks sector]. Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved February 14, 2006. In the former East Germany, Vita Cola, invented during communist rule, is gaining popularity.

While Coca-Cola does not have the majority of the market share in India, The Coca-Cola Company's other brands like Thums Up and Sprite perform well. The Coca-Cola Company purchased Thums Up in 1993 when they re-entered the Indian market.Kripalani, Manjeet and Mark L. Clifford (February 10, 2003) [http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_06/b3819080.htm "Finally, Coke Gets It Right in India"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207052221/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/03_06/b3819080.htm |date=February 7, 2007 }}. BusinessWeek. Retrieved August 9, 2006. {{As of|2023}}, Coca-Cola held a 9% market-share in India while Thums Up and Sprite had a 16% and 20% market share respectively.{{Cite web |date=March 28, 2023 |title=Coca-Cola And Pepsi Face New Threat In India As Country's Richest Person Revives Iconic Brand |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coca-cola-pepsi-face-threat-114831176.html |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US}}

Tropicola, a domestic drink, is served in Cuba instead of Coca-Cola, due to a United States embargo. French brand Mecca-Cola{{cite news |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/retail/mecca-cola-plans-new-factories-for-middle-east-148332 |date=March 1, 2007 |title=Mecca-Cola plans new factories for Middle East |work=www.arabianbusiness.com |access-date=April 7, 2022 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321181035/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/retail/mecca-cola-plans-new-factories-for-middle-east-148332 |url-status=live }} and British brand Qibla Cola{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2003 |title='Protest' drinks range targets Muslims |url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/apr/23/marketingandpr.iraq |access-date=March 2, 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321181035/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/apr/23/marketingandpr.iraq |url-status=live }} are competitors to Coca-Cola in the Middle East.

In Turkey, Cola Turka, in Iran and the Middle East, Zamzam and Parsi Cola, in some parts of China, Future Cola, in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Kofola, in Slovenia, Cockta, and the inexpensive Mercator Cola, sold only in the country's biggest supermarket chain, Mercator, are some of the brand's competitors.{{Cite web |last=Cocking |first=Lauren |date=2019-03-14 |title=The Most Delicious Sodas From Around the World |url=https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/the-most-delicious-sodas-from-around-the-world |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Fodors Travel Guide |language=en-US}}

In 2021, Coca-Cola petitioned to cancel registrations for the marks Thums Up and Limca issued to Meenaxi Enterprise, Inc. based on misrepresentation of source. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board concluded that "Meenaxi engaged in blatant misuse in a manner calculated to trade on the goodwill and reputation of Coca-Cola in an attempt to confuse consumers in the United States that its Thums Up and Limca marks were licensed or produced by the source of the same types of cola and lemon-lime soda sold under these marks for decades in India."{{cite news |date=June 28, 2021 |title=The Coca-Cola Companyv. Meenaxi Enterprise, Inc.|url=http://business.cch.com/ipld/CocaColaMeenaxieTTAB20210628.pdf|publisher=UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723234428/http://business.cch.com/ipld/CocaColaMeenaxieTTAB20210628.pdf|archive-date=July 23, 2021|url-status=live}}

{{See also|Coca-Cola slogans}}

{{more citations needed|section|date=May 2020}}

File:Cocacola-5cents-1900 edit1.jpg in formal 19th century attire. The ad is titled Drink Coca-Cola 5¢. (US).]]

File:Ft Dodge ghost sign.jpg in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Older Coca-Cola ghosts behind Borax and telephone ads. April 2008.]]

File:Camion cocacola argentina 1942.jpg

Coca-Cola's advertising has significantly affected American culture, and it is frequently credited with inventing the modern image of Santa Claus as an old man in a red-and-white suit. Although the company did start using the red-and-white Santa image in the 1930s, with its winter advertising campaigns illustrated by Haddon Sundblom, the motif was already common.Barbara Mikkelson and David P. Mikkelson, "[http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/santa.asp The Claus That Refreshes]," snopes.com, February 27, 2001. Retrieved June 10, 2005. {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120526195849/http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/santa.asp |date=May 26, 2012 }}See George McKay [http://usir.salford.ac.uk/2227/ 'Consumption, Coca-colonisation, cultural resistance – and Santa Claus'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410051612/http://usir.salford.ac.uk/2227/ |date=April 10, 2015 }}, in Sheila Whiteley, ed. (2008) Christmas, Ideology and Popular Culture. Edinburgh University Press, pp. 50–70. Coca-Cola was not even the first soft drink company to use the modern image of Santa Claus in its advertising: White Rock Beverages used Santa in advertisements for its ginger ale in 1923, after first using him to sell mineral water in 1915.The White Rock Collectors Association, "[http://www.whiterocking.org/santa.html#article Did White Rock or The Coca-Cola Company create the modern Santa Claus Advertisement?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213214926/http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/santa/cocacola.asp#article |date=December 13, 2021 }}," whiterocking.org, 2001 . Retrieved January 19, 2007.White Rock Beverages, "[http://www.bevnet.com/news/2006/12-18-2006-white_rock_coke_santa_claus.asp Coca-Cola's Santa Claus: Not The Real Thing!]," BevNET.com, December 18, 2006 . Retrieved January 19, 2007. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070117233916/http://www.bevnet.com/news/2006/12-18-2006-white_rock_coke_santa_claus.asp |date=January 17, 2007 }} Before Santa Claus, Coca-Cola relied on images of smartly dressed young women to sell its beverages. Coca-Cola's first such advertisement appeared in 1895, featuring the young Bostonian actress Hilda Clark as its spokeswoman.

1941 saw the first use of the nickname "Coke" as an official trademark for the product, with a series of advertisements informing consumers that "Coke means Coca-Cola".{{cite web|url=http://www.coca-colaconversations.com/my_weblog/2008/06/coke-means-coca.html |title=Coke means Coca-Cola |publisher=Coca-Cola Conversations |date=June 16, 2008 |access-date=March 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226184252/http://www.coca-colaconversations.com/my_weblog/2008/06/coke-means-coca.html |archive-date=February 26, 2011 }} In 1971, a song from a Coca-Cola commercial called "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", produced by Billy Davis, became a hit single. During the 1950s the term cola wars emerged, describing the on-going battle between Coca-Cola and Pepsi for supremacy in the soft drink industry. Coca-Cola and Pepsi were competing with new products, global expansion, US marketing initiatives and sport sponsorships.{{Cite journal|last=McKelvey|first=Steve M.|date=2006|title=Coca-Cola vs. PepsiCo — A 'Super' Battleground for the Cola Wars?|journal=Sport MarHeting Quarterly|volume=15|pages=114–123|citeseerx=10.1.1.392.5206}}{{dead link|date=November 2022}}

File:Cabo Verde Fogo CokeBooth.JPG in 2004]]

File:Coca-cola (2).JPG, 2013]]

Coke's advertising is pervasive, as one of Woodruff's stated goals was to ensure that everyone on Earth drank Coca-Cola as their preferred beverage. This is especially true in southern areas of the United States, such as Atlanta, where Coke was born.

Some Coca-Cola television commercials between 1960 through 1986 were written and produced by former Atlanta radio veteran Don Naylor (WGST 1936–1950, WAGA 1951–1959) during his career as a producer for the McCann Erickson advertising agency. Many of these early television commercials for Coca-Cola featured movie stars, sports heroes, and popular singers.

During the 1980s, Pepsi ran a series of television advertisements showing people participating in taste tests demonstrating that, according to the commercials, "fifty percent of the participants who said they preferred Coke {{em|actually}} chose the Pepsi."{{cite book |last1=Kemp |first1=Martin |title=Christ to Coke: How Image Becomes Icon |date=2012 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-958111-5 |page=272 |language=en}} Coca-Cola ran ads to combat Pepsi's ads in an incident sometimes referred to as the cola wars; one of Coke's ads compared the so-called Pepsi challenge to two chimpanzees deciding which tennis ball was furrier. Thereafter, Coca-Cola regained its leadership in the market.

Selena was a spokesperson for Coca-Cola from 1989 until the time of her death. She filmed three commercials for the company. During 1994, to commemorate her five years with the company, Coca-Cola issued special Selena coke bottles.Orozco, Cynthia E. [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fquxg Quintanilla Perez, Selena.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407230025/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fquxg |date=April 7, 2020 }} The Handbook of Texas online. Retrieved on June 5, 2006

The Coca-Cola Company purchased Columbia Pictures in 1982, and began inserting Coke-product images into many of its films.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/23/business/coke-completes-columbia-merger.html|title=Coke Completes Columbia Merger|date=June 23, 1982|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 14, 2010|agency=Associated Press|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} After a few early successes during Coca-Cola's ownership, Columbia began to underperform, and the studio was sold to Sony in 1989.{{cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |title=DEAL IS EXPECTED FOR SONY TO BUY COLUMBIA PICTURES |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/09/26/business/deal-is-expected-for-sony-to-buy-columbia-pictures.html |access-date=May 22, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=September 26, 1989 |page=1 |language=en-US}}

Coca-Cola has gone through a number of different advertising slogans in its long history, including "It's the real thing",{{cite book |last1=Cone |first1=Steve |title=Powerlines: Words That Sell Brands, Grip Fans, and Sometimes Change History |date=July 1, 2008 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-57660-304-8 |page=133 |language=en}} "The pause that refreshes", "I'd like to buy the world a Coke",{{cite book |last1=Allan |first1=David |title=This Note's For You: Popular Music + Advertising = Marketing Excellence |date=January 20, 2015 |publisher=Business Expert Press |isbn=978-1-63157-002-5 |pages=1–8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KFNnBgAAQBAJ&dq=%22I%27d+like+to+buy+the+world+a+Coke%22&pg=PT13 |language=en}} and "Coke is it".{{cite book |last1=Garvey |first1=John H. |title=What are Freedoms For? |date=1996 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-31929-5 |page=72 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9xan_o9STXMC&dq=%22Coke+is+it%22&pg=PA72 |language=en}}

In 1999, the Coca-Cola Company introduced the Coke Card, a loyalty program that offered deals on items like clothes, entertainment and food when the cardholder purchased a Coca-Cola Classic. The scheme was cancelled after three years, with a Coca-Cola spokesperson declining to state why.{{cite web |title=Coke Card loses its fizz |url=https://strategyonline.ca/2002/03/25/coke-20020325/ |website=Strategy |publisher=Brunico Communications Ltd |access-date=January 9, 2021 |date=March 25, 2002 |archive-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319072309/https://strategyonline.ca/2002/03/25/coke-20020325/ |url-status=live }}

The company then introduced another loyalty campaign in 2006, My Coke Rewards. This allows consumers to earn points by entering codes from specially marked packages of Coca-Cola products into a website. These points can be redeemed for various prizes or sweepstakes entries.[http://www.mycokerewards.com/ My Coke Rewards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091104025504/http://www.mycokerewards.com/ |date=November 4, 2009 }} (Official Site)

In Australia in 2011, Coca-Cola began the "share a Coke" campaign, where the Coca-Cola logo was replaced on the bottles and replaced with first names. Coca-Cola used the 150 most popular names in Australia to print on the bottles.{{cite web |last=Burke |first=Jessica |url=http://www.foodmag.com.au/news/sharing-your-coke--marketing-genius-or-just-entire |title=Sharing your Coke: marketing genius or just entirely weird? |work=Foodmag.com.au |date=September 26, 2011 |access-date=February 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130180750/http://www.foodmag.com.au/news/sharing-your-coke--marketing-genius-or-just-entire |archive-date=January 30, 2012 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.voxy.co.nz/lifestyle/whats-name/240/105315 |title=What's in a Name? |publisher=Voxy.co.nz |date=October 25, 2011 |access-date=April 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305223011/http://www.voxy.co.nz/lifestyle/whats-name/240/105315 |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.designtaxi.com/news/350737/For-Summer-Campaign-Coke-Prints-150-Popular-First-Names-on-Bottles/?page=1 |title=For Summer Campaign, Coke Prints 150 Popular First Names on Bottles |publisher=DesignTAXI.com |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=April 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427073824/http://designtaxi.com/news/350737/For-Summer-Campaign-Coke-Prints-150-Popular-First-Names-on-Bottles/?page=1 |archive-date=April 27, 2012 |url-status=live }} The campaign was paired with a website page, Facebook page, and an online "share a virtual Coke". The same campaign was introduced to Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Coke Zero bottles and cans in the UK in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/125/coca-cola-bottles-history.html|title=Coca‑Cola Bottles History|year=2013|publisher=Coca-Cola GB|location=London, UK|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916070046/http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/125/coca-cola-bottles-history.html|archive-date=September 16, 2011|access-date=May 28, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/share-a-coke-is-your-name-on-the-list-29298254.html|title=Share a Coke: Is your name on the list?|newspaper=The Belfast Telegraph|publisher=Independent News & Media|location=Belfast, UK|date=May 27, 2013|access-date=May 28, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527061305/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/share-a-coke-is-your-name-on-the-list-29298254.html|archive-date=May 27, 2013|url-status=live}}

Coca-Cola has also advertised its product to be consumed as a breakfast beverage, instead of coffee or tea for the morning caffeine.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/20/business/a-morning-cola-instead-of-coffee.html | title=A Morning Cola Instead of Coffee? | newspaper=The New York Times | date=January 20, 1988 | access-date=April 9, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424150535/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/20/business/a-morning-cola-instead-of-coffee.html | archive-date=April 24, 2013 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=665JAAAAIBAJ&pg=4053,80769&dq=coca-cola+breakfast | title=Soft drink for breakfast could be your cup of tea | newspaper=Bangor Daily News | date=November 30, 1987 | access-date=April 9, 2013 | author=McGrath, Karen | archive-date=July 19, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719234648/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=665JAAAAIBAJ&pg=4053,80769&dq=coca-cola+breakfast | url-status=live }}

{{Main|Fixed price of Coca-Cola from 1886 to 1959}}

From 1886 to 1959, the price of Coca-Cola was fixed at five cents, in part due to an advertising campaign.

Throughout the years, Coca-Cola has released limited-time collector bottles for Christmas.

File:Weihnachtstruck.jpg Coca-Cola Christmas truck in Dresden, Germany, 2004]]

Debuted in 1995, the "Holidays are coming!" advertisement featured a train of red delivery trucks, emblazoned with the Coca-Cola name and decorated with Christmas lights, driving through a snowy landscape and causing everything that they pass to light up and people to watch as they pass through.{{cite news|title=Coca-Cola revives popular 'holidays are coming' ad|last=Sandison|first=Nikki|work=Brand Republic|date=November 16, 2007|url=http://brandrepublic.com/News/767575/Coca-Cola-revives-popular-holidays-coming-ad/|access-date=January 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514201736/http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/767575/Coca-Cola-revives-popular-holidays-coming-ad/|archive-date=May 14, 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Vadukul |first1=Alex |title=Coca-Cola's Holiday Ads Trade the 'Real Thing' for Generative A.I. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/20/style/coca-cola-holiday-ads-ai.html |access-date=December 2, 2024 |work=The New York Times |url-access=limited | date=November 20, 2024}}

The advertisement fell into disuse in 2001, as the Coca-Cola Company restructured its advertising campaigns so that advertising around the world was produced locally in each country, rather than centrally in the company's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.{{cite news|work=The Guardian|last=Armstrong|first=Stephen|date=May 14, 2001|url=http://guardian.co.uk./media/2001/may/14/mondaymediasection6|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|title=Coke goes for broke|access-date=November 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123155634/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2001/may/14/mondaymediasection6|archive-date=November 23, 2009|url-status=live}} In 2007, the company brought back the campaign after, according to the company, many consumers telephoned its information center saying that they considered it to mark the beginning of Christmas. The advertisement was created by US advertising agency Doner, and has been part of the company's global advertising campaign for many years.{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7140327_ITM|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206010554/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7140327_ITM|archive-date=December 6, 2008|title=The Coca-Cola Challenge|date=October 22, 2004|work=Campaign|url-status=live}}

Keith Law, a producer and writer of commercials for Belfast CityBeat, was not convinced by Coca-Cola's reintroduction of the advertisement in 2007, saying that "I do not think there's anything Christmassy about HGVs and the commercial is too generic."{{cite news|title=Do TV campaigns ad up?|last=Hardy|first=Jane|date=December 27, 2007|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk./lifestyle/do-tv-campaigns-ad-up-13505247.html|work=The Belfast Telegraph|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530045617/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/do-tv-campaigns-ad-up-13505247.html|archive-date=May 30, 2012}}

In 2001, singer Melanie Thornton recorded the campaign's advertising jingle as a single, "Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming)", which entered the pop-music charts in Germany at no. 9.{{cite news|work=Der Spiegel|language=de|date=November 25, 2001|title=Melanie Thornton: "Ich wollte immer Musik"|url=http://spiegel.de./panorama/0,1518,169615,00.html|publisher=SPIEGELnet GmbH|access-date=November 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211064152/http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,169615,00.html|archive-date=December 11, 2008|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Prentiss Findlay|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2079594_ITM|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206010548/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-2079594_ITM|archive-date=December 6, 2008|title=Charleston native Thornton to be buried on Saturday.|date=December 7, 2001|work=The Post and Courier|url-status=live|location=Charleston, SC}} In 2005, Coca-Cola expanded the advertising campaign to radio, employing several variations of the jingle.{{cite news|title=Coca-Cola restructures in healthy drinks focus|last=Clark|first=Nicola|date=November 29, 2005|work=Brand Republic|url=http://brandrepublic.com./News/530102/Coca-Cola-restructures-healthy-drinks-focus/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110708090950/http://brandrepublic.com./News/530102/Coca-Cola-restructures-healthy-drinks-focus/ |archive-date = July 8, 2011|url-status=dead}}

In 2011, Coca-Cola launched a campaign for the Indian holiday Diwali. The campaign included commercials, a song, and an integration with Shah Rukh Khan's film Ra.One.{{cite web |url=http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2011/10/coca-cola-launches-its-diwali-campaign/ |title=Coca-Cola launches its Diwali campaign " Best Media Info, News and Analysis on Indian Advertising, Marketing and Media Industry |publisher=Bestmediainfo.com |date=October 13, 2011 |access-date=April 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522073503/http://www.bestmediainfo.com/2011/10/coca-cola-launches-its-diwali-campaign/ |archive-date=May 22, 2012 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJeC_XTBSiQ|title=Coca-Cola Diwali!|date=November 12, 2010|publisher=YouTube|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120202637/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJeC_XTBSiQ|archive-date=November 20, 2010|access-date=April 23, 2012}}{{cite web |last=Heikkila |first=Pia |url=http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/media/from-bollywood-to-the-world |title=From Bollywood to the world |publisher=The National |date=May 25, 2010 |access-date=April 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721134145/http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/media/from-bollywood-to-the-world |archive-date=July 21, 2012 }}

In November 2024, Coca-Cola released three short AI-generated videos as its Christmas ads, reviving the original 1995 "Holidays are Coming" ads. The ads were created by three AI studios: Secret Level, Silverside AI, and the Wild Card. Upon its release, the commercials drew backlash on social media. Alex Hirsch, the creator of Gravity Falls, wrote on Twitter: "FUN FACT: @CocaCola is 'red' because it's made from the blood of out-of-work artists! #HolidayFactz".{{cite magazine|last=Di Placido|first=Dani|date=November 16, 2024|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2024/11/16/coca-colas-ai-generated-ad-controversy-explained/|title=Coca Cola's AI-Generated Ad Controversy, Explained|magazine=Forbes|access-date=November 19, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Horvath|first=Bruna|date=November 18, 2024|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/coca-cola-causes-controversy-ai-made-ad-rcna180665|title=Coca-Cola causes controversy with AI-made ad|publisher=NBC News|access-date=November 19, 2024}} The company defended ads, writing to The New York Times "Coca-Cola will always remain dedicated to creating the highest level of work at the intersection of human creativity and technology".

File:Olympiakisojen virallisen kisajuoman myyntipiste Hesperian puistossa 1952.jpg]]

Coca-Cola was the first commercial sponsor of the Olympic Games, at the 1928 games in Amsterdam, and has been an Olympics sponsor ever since.{{cite web|url=http://www.olympic.org/sponsors/coca-cola|title=Coca-Cola|publisher=Olympic Movement|access-date=August 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821045818/http://www.olympic.org/sponsors/coca-cola|archive-date=August 21, 2012|url-status=live}} This corporate sponsorship included the 1996 Summer Olympics hosted in Atlanta, which allowed Coca-Cola to spotlight its hometown. Most recently, Coca-Cola has released localized commercials for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver; one Canadian commercial referred to Canada's hockey heritage and was modified after Canada won the gold medal game on February 28, 2010, by changing the ending line of the commercial to say "Now they know whose game they're playing".{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99msEwWpJBE |title=YouTube Post of Coca-Cola 2010 Olympic Hockey Commercial |website=YouTube |date=March 2010 |access-date=March 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629051932/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99msEwWpJBE |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |url-status=live }}

Since 1978, Coca-Cola has sponsored the FIFA World Cup, and other competitions organized by FIFA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/marketing/sponsorship/partners/coca-cola.html|title=FIFA Partners |last=FIFA.com|website=FIFA.com|language=en-GB|access-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813010802/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/marketing/sponsorship/partners/coca-cola.html|archive-date=August 13, 2017|url-status=dead}} One FIFA tournament trophy, the FIFA World Youth Championship from Tunisia in 1977 to Malaysia in 1997, was called "FIFA – Coca-Cola Cup". In addition, Coca-Cola sponsors NASCAR's annual Coca-Cola 600 and Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina and Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, respectively; since 2020, Coca-Cola has served as a premier partner of the NASCAR Cup Series, which includes holding the naming rights to the series' regular season championship trophy.{{Cite web |last=Smoot |first=Hannah |date=December 5, 2019 |title=NASCAR signs 4 sponsors for NASCAR Cup Series in 'monumental year' for the sport |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/article238067789.html |website=The Charlotte Observer}}{{Citation needed|date=September 2024|reason=This was previously supported by a generally unreliable source}} Coca-Cola is also the sponsor of the iRacing Pro Series.

Coca-Cola has a long history of sports marketing relationships, which over the years have included Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League, as well as with many teams within those leagues. Coca-Cola has had a longtime relationship with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers, due in part to the now-famous 1979 television commercial featuring "Mean Joe" Greene, leading to the two opening the Coca-Cola Great Hall at Heinz Field in 2001 and a more recent Coca-Cola Zero commercial featuring Troy Polamalu.

Coca-Cola is the official soft drink of many collegiate football teams throughout the nation, partly due to Coca-Cola providing those schools with upgraded athletic facilities in exchange for Coca-Cola's sponsorship. This is especially prevalent at the high school level, which is more dependent on such contracts due to tighter budgets.

Coca-Cola was one of the official sponsors of the 1996 Cricket World Cup held on the Indian subcontinent. Coca-Cola is also one of the associate sponsors of Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.

In England, Coca-Cola was the main sponsor of The Football League between 2004 and 2010, a name given to the three professional divisions below the Premier League in soccer. In 2005, Coca-Cola launched a competition for the 72 clubs of The Football League – it was called "Win a Player". This allowed fans to place one vote per day for their favorite club, with one entry being chosen at random earning £250,000 for the club; this was repeated in 2006. The "Win A Player" competition was very controversial, as at the end of the 2 competitions, Leeds United A.F.C. had the most votes by more than double, yet they did not win any money to spend on a new player for the club. In 2007, the competition changed to "Buy a Player". This competition allowed fans to buy a bottle of Coca-Cola or Coca-Cola Zero and submit the code on the wrapper on the Coca-Cola website. This code could then earn anything from 50p to £100,000 for a club of their choice. This competition was favored over the old "Win a Player" competition, as it allowed all clubs to win some money. Between 1992 and 1998, Coca-Cola was the title sponsor of the Football League Cup (Coca-Cola Cup), the secondary cup tournament of England. Starting in 2019–20 season, Coca-Cola has agreed its biggest UK sponsorship deal by becoming Premier League soccer's seventh and final commercial partner{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45510553#:~:text=Drinks%20giant%20Coca%2DCola%20has,Tag%20Heuer%20and%20EA%20Sports|title=Premier League signs Coca-Cola as sponsor|last=Wilson|first=Bill|work=BBC News|date=September 18, 2018|access-date=January 4, 2021|archive-date=March 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321181205/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45510553#:~:text=Drinks%20giant%20Coca%2DCola%20has,Tag%20Heuer%20and%20EA%20Sports|url-status=live}} for the UK and Ireland, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Egyptian and the West African markets.

Between 1994 and 1997, Coca-Cola was also the title sponsor of the Scottish League Cup, renaming it to the Coca-Cola Cup like its English counterpart. From 1998 to 2001, the company was the title sponsor of the Irish League Cup in Northern Ireland, where it was named the Coca-Cola League Cup.

Coca-Cola is the presenting sponsor of the Tour Championship, the final event of the PGA Tour held each year at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.{{cite web|url=http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/tour-championship-by-coca-cola.html|title=TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola|work=PGATour|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803233217/http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/tour-championship-by-coca-cola.html|archive-date=August 3, 2016|url-status=live}}

Introduced March 1, 2010, in Canada, to celebrate the 2010 Winter Olympics, Coca-Cola sold gold colored cans in packs of 12 {{convert|355|mL|0|abbr=on}} each, in select stores.{{cite web|title=Coca-Cola to Release Gold Can Commemorating the 2010 Olympics|url=http://bevwire.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/coca-cola-to-release-gold-can-commemorating-the-2010-olympics/|publisher=BevWire|access-date=March 22, 2010|date=March 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312102638/http://bevwire.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/coca-cola-to-release-gold-can-commemorating-the-2010-olympics/|archive-date=March 12, 2010|url-status=live}}

Coca-Cola which has been a partner with UEFA since 1988.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/portugal-por/story/4410619/cristiano-ronaldo-snub-sees-coca-cola-share-price-fall-by-$4bn |title=Cristiano Ronaldo snub sees Coca-Cola market value fall by $4bn |website=ESPN |date=June 16, 2021 |access-date=June 17, 2021 |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408070829/https://www.espn.com/soccer/portugal-por/story/4410619/cristiano-ronaldo-snub-sees-coca-cola-share-price-fall-by-$4bn |url-status=live }}

File:VWT2 Coca Cola.JPG in Maringá, Paraná, Brazil, 2012]]

Coca-Cola has been prominently featured in many films and television programs. It was a major plot element in films such as One, Two, Three, The Coca-Cola Kid, and The Gods Must Be Crazy, among many others. In music, such as in the Beatles' song, "Come Together", the lyrics say, "He shoot Coca-Cola". The Beach Boys also referenced Coca-Cola in their 1964 song "All Summer Long", singing "Member when you spilled Coke all over your blouse?"{{cite web |url=http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/All-Summer-Long-lyrics-Beach-Boys/A1E9E6CD61DA8C5F482569820027FD26 |title=All Summer Long Lyrics – Beach Boys |publisher=Sing365.com |access-date=April 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709051217/http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/All-Summer-Long-lyrics-Beach-Boys/A1E9E6CD61DA8C5F482569820027FD26 |archive-date=July 9, 2012 |url-status=live }}

The best selling solo artist of all time{{Cite web |title=Best-selling solo artist |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-solo-artist |access-date=March 26, 2021 |website=Guinness World Records |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624165649/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/best-selling-solo-artist |url-status=live }} Elvis Presley, promoted Coca-Cola during his last tour of 1977.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mdJeY-r9To |title=Elvis Presley |publisher=YouTube |date=June 21, 1977 |access-date=August 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314135816/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mdJeY-r9To |archive-date=March 14, 2014 |url-status=live }} The Coca-Cola Company used Presley's image to promote the product.{{cite web|url=http://rica.alfahosting.org/everythingelvis/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23196:coca-cola-celebrates-125th-anniversary-with-elvis-and-coke&catid=26:elvis-presley-news&Itemid=107 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120425231553/http://rica.alfahosting.org/everythingelvis/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23196:coca-cola-celebrates-125th-anniversary-with-elvis-and-coke&catid=26:elvis-presley-news&Itemid=107 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 25, 2012 |title=Coca Cola celebrates 125th anniversary with 'Elvis and Coke' |publisher=Rica.alfahosting.org |access-date= April 23, 2012}} For example, the company used a song performed by Presley, "A Little Less Conversation", in a Japanese Coca-Cola commercial.{{cite web |url=http://www.elvisnews.com/news.aspx/elvis-music-in-japanese-coca-cola-commercial/13178 |title=Elvis Music in Japanese Coca-Cola Commercial – Misc |publisher=ElvisNews.com |access-date=April 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415053157/http://www.elvisnews.com/news.aspx/elvis-music-in-japanese-coca-cola-commercial/13178 |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |url-status=live }}

Other artists that promoted Coca-Cola include David Bowie,{{cite web |url=http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f145/david-bowie-coca-cola-planet-live-rare-euro-promo-flac-64418.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906044352/http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f145/david-bowie-coca-cola-planet-live-rare-euro-promo-flac-64418.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 6, 2012 |title=David Bowie: Coca-Cola Planet Live (Rare Euro Promo) FLAC – Guitars101 – Guitar Forums |publisher=Guitars101 |access-date=April 23, 2012 }} George Michael,{{YouTube|gp5SioXLdXQ|Diet Coke commercial}} Elton John,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfOepK2CgLc |title=Coca Cola Light CM – Elton John |date=May 8, 2007 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=April 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520213349/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfOepK2CgLc |archive-date=May 20, 2013 |url-status=live }} and Whitney Houston,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTg9BQn3PVU |title=Whitney Houston – Diet Coke Commercial (1986) |publisher=YouTube |date=June 14, 2010 |access-date=April 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520150658/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTg9BQn3PVU |archive-date=May 20, 2013 |url-status=live }} who appeared in the Diet Coke commercial, among many others.

Not all musical references to Coca-Cola went well. A line in "Lola" by the Kinks was originally recorded as "You drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-Cola." When the British Broadcasting Corporation refused to play the song because of the commercial reference, lead singer Ray Davies re-recorded the lyric as "it tastes just like cherry cola" to get airplay for the song.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/radio-industry/news/article.cfm?c_id=295&objectid=10483279&ref=rss |title=Banning songs not a rare occurrence for the BBC |date=December 19, 2007 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=October 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522195645/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/radio-industry/news/article.cfm?c_id=295&objectid=10483279&ref=rss |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last1=Giles|first1=Jeff|title=45 Years Ago: Ray Davies Flies Across the Atlantic – Twice! – to Re-Record Two Words in 'Lola'|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/kinks-lola-lyric-changes/|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=June 3, 2015 |access-date=June 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607022039/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/kinks-lola-lyric-changes/|archive-date=June 7, 2015|url-status=live}}

Political cartoonist Michel Kichka satirized a famous Coca-Cola billboard in his 1982 poster "And I Love New York." On the billboard, the Coca-Cola wave is accompanied by the words "Enjoy Coke." In Kichka's poster, the lettering and script above the Coca-Cola wave instead read "Enjoy Cocaine."{{cite web|url=http://rogallery.com/Kichka_Michel/kichka-new_york.html|title=And I Love New York|publisher=Rogallery.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804104428/http://rogallery.com/Kichka_Michel/kichka-new_york.html|archive-date=August 4, 2008|access-date=November 10, 2012}}

File:Space Shuttle Coca-Cola dispenser, Atlanta, Georgia (cropped).jpg in 1995.]]

Coca-Cola has a high degree of identification with the United States, being considered by some an "American Brand" or as an item representing America, criticized as Cocacolonization. After World War II, this gave rise to the brief production of White Coke at the request of and for Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov, who did not want to be seen drinking a symbol of American imperialism. The bottles were given by the President Eisenhower during a conference, and Marshal Zhukov enjoyed the drink. The bottles were disguised as vodka bottles, with the cap having a red star design, to avoid suspicion of Soviet officials.{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/15/business/viewpoints-a-brief-history-of-coca-colonization.html|title=Viewpoints; A Brief History of Coca-Colonization|author=Mark Pendergrast|date=August 15, 1993|access-date=September 12, 2012|page=256|author-link=Mark Pendergrast|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120082810/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/15/business/viewpoints-a-brief-history-of-coca-colonization.html|archive-date=November 20, 2012|url-status=live}}

Coca-Cola was introduced to China in 1927, and was very popular until 1949. After the Chinese Civil War ended in 1949, the beverage was no longer imported into China, as it was perceived to be a symbol of decadent Western culture and capitalist lifestyle. Importation and sales of the beverage resumed in 1979, after diplomatic relations between the United States and China were restored.{{cite web|last=Koetse|first=Manya|title=Coca Cola in China|work=Marketing|publisher=whatsonweibo.com|location=Netherlands|date=September 24, 2015|url=http://www.whatsonweibo.com/coca-cola-in-china/|access-date=May 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617165423/http://www.whatsonweibo.com/coca-cola-in-china/|archive-date=June 17, 2016|url-status=live}} The agreement to allow Coca-Cola into the Chinese market was reached during Deng Xiaoping's visit to the United States.{{Cite book |last=Crean |first=Jeffrey |title=The Fear of Chinese Power: an International History |date=2024 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-350-23394-2 |edition= |series=New Approaches to International History series |location=London, UK}}{{Rp|page=137}}

There are some consumer boycotts of Coca-Cola in Arab countries due to Coke's early investment in Israel during the Arab League boycott of Israel (its competitor Pepsi stayed out of Israel).{{cite web |url=http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-coca-cola.html |title=Boycott Israel Campaign page on Coca-Cola |access-date=August 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907035921/http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-coca-cola.html |archive-date=September 7, 2007 |url-status=live }} Mecca-Cola and Pepsi are popular alternatives in the Middle East.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/31/international/europe/31FRAN.html |title=They Choke on Coke, But Savor Mecca-Cola |last1=Tagliabue |first1=John |date=December 31, 2002 |via=NYTimes.com |work=The New York Times|access-date=July 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616072000/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/31/international/europe/31FRAN.html |archive-date=June 16, 2013 |url-status=live }}

A Coca-Cola fountain dispenser (officially a Fluids Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus or FGBA) was developed for use on the Space Shuttle as a test bed to determine if carbonated beverages can be produced from separately stored carbon dioxide, water, and flavored syrups and determine if the resulting fluids can be made available for consumption without bubble nucleation and resulting foam formation. FGBA-1 flew on STS-63 in 1995 and dispensed pre-mixed beverages, followed by FGBA-2 on STS-77 the next year. The latter mixed CO₂, water, and syrup to make beverages. It supplied 1.65 liters each of Coca-Cola and Diet Coke.{{Cite web |url=http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/000692.html |title=Coke machines on-board the space shuttle |last=Pearlman |first=Robert |website=CollectSpace |access-date=June 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022055341/http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/000692.html |archive-date=October 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/shuttle_pk/pk/Flight_077_STS-077_Press_Kit.pdf|title=Space Shuttle Mission STS-77|last=Orloff|first=Richard W.|date=January 2001|publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration|orig-year=Press Kit May 1996|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030327212757/http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/shuttle_pk/pk/Flight_077_STS-077_Press_Kit.pdf|archive-date=March 27, 2003|access-date=June 13, 2009}}

The drink is also often a metonym for the Coca-Cola Company.

Coca-Cola is sometimes used for the treatment of gastric phytobezoars. In about 50% of cases studied, Coca-Cola alone was found to be effective in gastric phytobezoar dissolution. This treatment can however result in the potential of developing small bowel obstruction in a minority of cases, necessitating surgical intervention.{{cite journal |author1=Iwamuro M. |author2=Okada H. |author3=Matsueda K. |author4=Inaba T. |author5=Kusumoto C. |author6=Imagawa A. |author7=Yamamoto K. | year = 2015 | title = Review of the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal bezoars | journal = World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy | volume = 7 | issue = 4| pages = 336–345 | doi = 10.4253/wjge.v7.i4.336 |pmc=4400622 | pmid=25901212 |doi-access=free |issn=1948-5190 }}

{{Main|Criticism of Coca-Cola}}

Criticism of Coca-Cola has arisen from various groups around the world, concerning a variety of issues, including health effects, environmental issues, and business practices. The drink's coca flavoring, and the nickname "Coke", remain a common theme of criticism due to the relationship with the illegal drug cocaine. In 1911, the US government seized 40 barrels and 20 kegs of Coca-Cola syrup in Chattanooga, Tennessee, alleging the caffeine in its drink was "injurious to health", leading to amended food safety legislation.{{Cite journal|last1=Benjamin|first1=Ludy T.|last2=Rogers|first2=Anne M.|last3=Rosenbaum|first3=Angela|date=January 1, 1991|title=Coca-Cola, caffeine, and mental deficiency: Harry Hollingworth and the Chattanooga trial of 1911|journal=Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences|language=en|volume=27|issue=1|pages=42–55|doi=10.1002/1520-6696(199101)27:1<42::AID-JHBS2300270105>3.0.CO;2-1|pmid=2010614|issn=1520-6696}}

Beginning in the 1940s, PepsiCo started marketing their drinks to African Americans, a niche market that was largely ignored by white-owned manufacturers in the US, and was able to use its anti-racism stance as a selling point, attacking Coke's reluctance to hire blacks and support by the chairman of the Coca-Cola Company for segregationist Governor of Georgia Herman Talmadge.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/business/06boyd.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin|last=Martin|first=Douglas|date=May 6, 2007|title=Edward F. Boyd Dies at 92; Marketed Pepsi to Blacks.|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214011657/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/business/06boyd.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin|archive-date=December 14, 2018|url-status=live}} As a result of this campaign, PepsiCo's market share as compared to Coca-Cola's shot up dramatically in the 1950s with African American soft-drink consumers three times more likely to purchase Pepsi over Coke.Brian D. Behnken, Gregory D. Smithers (2015). "Racism in American Popular Media: From Aunt Jemima to the Frito Bandito". p. 34. ABC-CLIO

The Coca-Cola Company, its subsidiaries and products have been subject to sustained criticism by consumer groups, environmentalists, and watchdogs, particularly since the early 2000s.{{Cite news |last1=Delshad |first1=Irani |title=Is Coca-Cola an easy target? Or are its critics right? |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/brand-equity/is-coca-cola-an-easy-target-or-are-its-critics-right/articleshow/51106125.cms |newspaper=The Economic Times |access-date=July 31, 2018 |date=February 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801034412/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/brand-equity/is-coca-cola-an-easy-target-or-are-its-critics-right/articleshow/51106125.cms |archive-date=August 1, 2018 |url-status=live }} In 2019, BreakFreeFromPlastic named Coca-Cola the single biggest plastic polluter in the world. After 72,541 volunteers collected 476,423 pieces of plastic waste from around where they lived, a total of 11,732 pieces were found to be labeled with a Coca-Cola brand (including the Dasani, Sprite, and Fanta brands) in 37 countries across four continents.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90425011/coca-cola-nestle-and-pepsico-are-the-worlds-biggest-plastic-polluters-again|title=Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and PepsiCo are the world's biggest plastic polluters—again|last=Segran|first=Elizabeth|date=November 1, 2019|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|access-date=February 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208145659/https://www.fastcompany.com/90425011/coca-cola-nestle-and-pepsico-are-the-worlds-biggest-plastic-polluters-again|archive-date=February 8, 2020|url-status=live}} At the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos, Coca-Cola's head of sustainability, Bea Perez, said customers like them because they reseal and are lightweight, and "business won't be in business if we don't accommodate consumers."{{Cite news|last=Thomas|first=Daniel|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51197463|title=People still want plastic bottles, says Coca-Cola|date=January 21, 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=February 17, 2020|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130025249/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51197463|archive-date=January 30, 2020|url-status=live}} In February 2022, Coca-Cola announced that it will aim to make 25 percent of its packaging reusable by 2030.{{Cite web|date=February 16, 2022|title=Coca-Cola Pledges 25% Reusable Packaging by 2030 - February 16, 2022|url=https://dailynewsbrief.com/2022/02/16/coca-cola-pledges-25-reusable-packaging-by-2030/|access-date=February 16, 2022|website=The Daily NewsBrief|language=en-US|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319192200/https://dailynewsbrief.com/subscribe/monthly/?mepr-unauth-page=15342&redirect_to=%2F2022%2F02%2F16%2Fcoca-cola-pledges-25-reusable-packaging-by-2030%2F|url-status=live}}

Coca-Cola Classic is rich in sugars, especially sucrose, which causes dental caries when consumed regularly. Besides this, the high caloric value of the sugars themselves can contribute to obesity. Both are major health issues in the developed world.{{Cite journal|last1=Gupta|first1=Prahlad|last2=Gupta|first2=Nidhi|last3=Pawar|first3=Atish Prakash|last4=Birajdar|first4=Smita Shrishail|last5=Natt|first5=Amanpreet Singh|last6=Singh|first6=Harkanwal Preet|date=December 29, 2013|title=Role of Sugar and Sugar Substitutes in Dental Caries: A Review|journal=ISRN Dentistry|volume=2013|doi=10.1155/2013/519421|issn=2090-4371|pmc=3893787|pmid=24490079|pages=519421|doi-access=free}}

In February 2021, Coca-Cola received criticism after a video of a training session, which told employees to "try to be less white", was leaked by an employee. The session also said in order to be "less white" employees had to be less "arrogant" and "defensive".{{cite web|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/366132|title=Coca-Cola Asks Its Workers to Be 'Less White' to Fight Racism|last=Del Río|first=Mairem|website=entrepreneur.com|date=February 25, 2021|accessdate=March 13, 2021|archive-date=December 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209080742/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/366132|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/coca-cola-racism-robin-diangelo-coke-b1806122.html|title=Coca-Cola faces backlash over seminar asking staff to 'be less white'|last=Bremner|first=Jade|website=The Independent|date=February 24, 2021|accessdate=March 13, 2021|archive-date=March 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321181042/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/coca-cola-racism-robin-diangelo-coke-b1806122.html|url-status=live}}

The company, along with Pepsico and other American conglomerates, has faced criticism and an ongoing boycott by the pro-Palestine movement, especially amidst the Gaza war.{{Cite web |last1=Jiménez |first1=Miguel |last2=Pita |first2=Antonio |date=2024-02-18 |title=Pro-Gaza boycotts take a toll on US multinationals in the Middle East and wider Muslim world |url=https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2024-02-18/pro-gaza-boycotts-take-a-toll-on-us-multinationals-in-the-middle-east-and-wider-muslim-world.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=EL PAÍS English |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |title=#BoycottCocaCola |url=https://www.foa.org.uk/campaign/boycottcocacola |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=FOA - Friends of Al-Aqsa |language=en}} Critics pointed to the company's ties with Israel, including its donations to far-right Zionist organization Im Tirtzu, to justify the boycott.{{Cite web |last=Alghoul |first=Diana |date=7 May 2017 |title=Coca-Cola 'donated thousands of dollars' to extremist Zionist group |url=https://www.newarab.com/features/coca-cola-donated-thousands-dollars-extremist-zionist-group |access-date=28 June 2024 |website=The New Arab}} In June 2024, Coca-Cola's Bangladesh distributor ran an ad in Bangladesh—where it faced a heavy boycott—attempting to distance the company from Israel.{{Cite web |last=Mahmud |first=Faisal |title=Coca-Cola ad in Bangladesh sparks backlash for 'denying ties with Israel' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/12/coca-cola-ad-in-bangladesh-sparks-backlash-for-denying-ties-with-israel |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

{{Main|Sinaltrainal v. Coca-Cola Co.}}

In July 2001, the Coca-Cola Company was sued over its alleged use of far-right death squads (the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia) to kidnap, torture, and kill Colombian bottler workers that were linked with trade union activity. Coca-Cola was sued in a US federal court in Miami by the Colombian food and drink union Sinaltrainal. The suit alleged that Coca-Cola was indirectly responsible for having "contracted with or otherwise directed paramilitary security forces that utilized extreme violence and murdered, tortured, unlawfully detained or otherwise silenced trade union leaders". This sparked campaigns to boycott Coca-Cola in the UK, US, Germany, Italy, and Australia.{{cite news|title=Coca-Cola Accused|newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 29, 2001 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/29/weekinreview/july-22-28-coca-cola-accused.html|access-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224203333/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/29/weekinreview/july-22-28-coca-cola-accused.html|archive-date=December 24, 2019|url-status=live|last1=Forero |first1=Juan }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/jul/24/marketingandpr.colombia |title=Coca-Cola boycott launched after killings at Colombian plants |date=July 24, 2003 |newspaper=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian |access-date=February 2, 2016 |last1=Brodzinsky |first1=Sibylla |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131115030/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/jul/24/marketingandpr.colombia |archive-date=January 31, 2016 |url-status=live }} Javier Correa, the president of Sinaltrainal, said the campaign aimed to put pressure on Coca-Cola "to mitigate the pain and suffering" that union members had suffered.

Speaking from the Coca-Cola Company's headquarters in Atlanta, company spokesperson Rafael Fernandez Quiros said "Coca-Cola denies any connection to any human-rights violation of this type" and added "We do not own or operate the plants".{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1448962.stm |title=Coke sued over death squad claims |date=July 20, 2001 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |access-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203134157/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1448962.stm |archive-date=December 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}

Coca-Cola can be used to remove grease and oil stains from concrete,{{cite web | url=https://www.northeastpavingandgardens.co.uk/remove-driveway-oil-stains-with-coke/ | title=Will Coke Remove Oil Stains from a Driveway? [How to do It] | date=January 18, 2022 }} metal, and clothes.{{cite web | title=10 awesome things you can do with Coke | website=CNET | date=2018-11-29 | url=https://www.cnet.com/pictures/things-you-can-clean-with-coke/ | access-date=2024-10-30}} It is also used to delay concrete from setting.{{Cite web |title=The effect of coca cola additive as admixtures on concrete |url=https://pubs.aip.org/aip/acp/article/2482/1/050001/2867394/The-effect-of-coca-cola-additive-as-admixtures-on |access-date=July 18, 2023 |website=pubs.aip.org}}

{{Portal|Food|Drink|United States|Georgia (U.S. state)}}

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• Colalife
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• List of Coca-Cola brands
• List of soft drink flavors
• Mexican Coke
• Neiman Marcus
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{{reflist}}

• Elmore, Bartow J. "Citizen Coke: An Environmental and Political History of the Coca-Cola Company," Enterprise & Society (2013) 14#4 pp 717–731 [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/enterprise_and_society/v014/14.4.elmore.html online].

• Allen, Frederick. Secret Formula: How Brilliant Marketing and Relentless Salesmanship Made Coca-Cola the Best-Known Product in the World. New York: Harper Business, 1994.
• Blanding, Michael. The Coke Machine: The Dirty Truth Behind the World's Favorite Soft Drink. New York: Avery, 2010.
• {{cite book|last=Foster|first=Robert|year=2008|title=Coca-Globalization: Following Soft Drinks from New York to New Guinea|location=New York|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan}}
• {{cite journal|last=Hamblin|first=James|title=Why We Took Cocaine Out of Soda|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/01/why-we-took-cocaine-out-of-soda/272694/|journal=The Atlantic|date=January 31, 2013|quote=When cocaine and alcohol meet inside a person, they create a third unique drug called cocaethylene.}}
• Hays, Constance L. The Real Thing: Truth and Power at the Coca-Cola Company. New York: Random House, 2004.
• Kahn, Ely J. Jr. The Big Drink: The Story of Coca-Cola. New York: Random House, 1960.
• Louis, Jill Chen and Harvey Z. Yazijian. The Cola Wars. New York: Everest House Publishers, 1980.
• Oliver, Thomas. The Real Coke, The Real Story. New York: Random House, 1986.
• Pendergrast, Mark. For God, Country, and Coca-Cola: The Unauthorized History of the Great American Soft Drink And the Company That Makes It. New York: Basic Books, 2000.

• Isdell, Neville. Inside Coca-Cola: A CEO's Life Story of Building the World's Most Popular Brand. With the assistance of David Beasley. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2011.

{{Commons category}}

• {{official website}}
• [https://archive.org/details/Coke_Commercial Kinescope of a live 1954 TV commercial for Coca-Cola (Internet Archive)]
• [http://jipemania.com/coke Coca-Cola Advertising History]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507102934/http://jipemania.com/coke/ |date=May 7, 2010 }} {{in lang|pt}}.
• [http://www.contourbottle.com/ The Contour Bottle]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110529094049/http://www.life.com/gallery/60951/coca-cola-refreshing-memories#index/0 Coca-Cola: Refreshing Memories] – slideshow by Life
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091222190342/http://www.troutmansanders.com/11-19-2008/ China Advisory: Avoiding the Wax Tadpole – Effective Chinese Language Trademark Strategy] – Chinese language trademark for Coca-Cola

{{Varieties of Coca-Cola}}

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