Dr Pepper#Varieties

File:Charles Alderton.jpg

File:Dr pepper king of beverages.png

The name "Dr. Pepper" was first used commercially in 1885.{{US trademark|71561734}} It preceded the introduction of Coca-Cola by one year. Dr Pepper was introduced nationally at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition.{{cite web |author=Patrick Farl |title=Dr Pepper Company |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/dr-pepper-company |website=Texas State Historical Association|date=August 1, 1995 |access-date=2025-04-04}}

It was formulated by Brooklyn-born pharmacist Charles Alderton in Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas.{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | Dr Pepper |url=http://www.drpepper.com/en/faq |date=2016 |access-date=September 21, 2016 |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212214219/https://www.drpepper.com/en/faq |url-status=live }} To test his new drink, he first offered it to store owner Wade Morrison, who also found it to his liking.{{cite web |author=Joy Summar-Smith |title=Old Corner Drugstore |url=https://wacohistory.org/items/show/86 |website=Waco History |publisher=Baylor University |access-date=2025-04-04}} Patrons at Morrison's soda fountain soon learned of Alderton's new drink and began ordering a "Waco".{{cite web | url = http://www.drpeppersnapplegroup.com/company/history/ | title = Keurig Dr Pepper – Our History | access-date = December 6, 2011 | quote = "It was served at the drug store where Alderton worked and the first Dr Pepper fans asked for a 'Waco.'" | archive-date = December 17, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111217024738/http://www.drpeppersnapplegroup.com/company/history | url-status = live }} Alderton gave the formula to Morrison, who named it Dr. Pepper (later stylized as "Dr Pepper").

Early advertisements for this soft drink made medical claims, stating that it "aids digestion and restores vim, vigor, and vitality."{{Cite magazine|last=Bloom|first=John|date=April 1978|title=Business: Sweet Revenge|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UiwEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22dr+pepper%22+digestion&pg=PA78|magazine=Texas Monthly|language=en|page=78|access-date=August 31, 2019}}

As with the formula for Coca-Cola, the formula for Dr Pepper is a trade secret, and allegedly the recipe is kept as two halves in safe deposit boxes in two separate Dallas banks.{{cite web |last1=Mikkelson |first1=David |title=Is Dr Pepper Made from Prune Juice? : snopes.com |url=http://www.snopes.com/business/secret/drpepper.asp |date=March 20, 2015 |access-date=September 21, 2016}} A persistent rumor since the 1930s is that the drink contains prune juice, but the official Dr Pepper FAQ refutes this with "Dr Pepper is a unique blend of natural and artificial flavors; it does not contain prune juice." The origin of the rumor is unknown; some believe it was started by a deliveryman for a competitor trying to cast aspersions based on prune juice's laxative effects, but it may simply be because many people feel that Dr Pepper tastes similar to prune juice.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

In 2009, an old ledger book filled with formulas and recipes was discovered by Bill Waters while shopping at antiques stores in the Texas Panhandle.[http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/05/04/2009-05-04_bill_waters_finds_dr_pepper_recipe_book_in_antique_mall_in_texas.html Bill Waters finds Dr. Pepper original formula in notebook in antique store in Texas.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307152251/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/money/bill-waters-finds-dr-pepper-original-formula-notebook-antique-store-texas-article-1.408223 |date=March 7, 2016 }} New York Daily News May 4, 2009 Several sheets and letterheads hinted it had come from the W.B. Morrison & Co. Old Corner Drug Store (the same store where Dr Pepper was first served in 1885) and faded letters on the book's cover spelled out "Castles Formulas". John Castles was a partner of Morrison's for a time and worked at that location as early as 1880. One recipe in the book titled "Dr Peppers Pepsin Bitters" was of particular interest, and some speculated it could be an early recipe for Dr Pepper. However, Keurig Dr Pepper insists it is not the formula for Dr Pepper, but is instead a medicinal recipe for a digestive aid. The book was put up for auction in May 2009, but no one purchased it.{{cite web |url=http://historical.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=6013&Lot_No=48092&type=&ic= |title=The old recipe book did not sell |publisher=Historical.ha.com |date=May 12, 2009 |access-date=July 14, 2009 |archive-date=August 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808040049/http://historical.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=6013&Lot_No=48092&type=&ic= |url-status=live }}

Theories about the origins of the soft drink's name abound.{{cite web|title=7 Things You Didn't Know About Dr Pepper|url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/7-things-you-didn-t-know-about-dr-pepper|website=The Daily Meal|publisher=Tronc, Inc.|access-date=August 13, 2017|date=September 9, 2014|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924203218/https://www.thedailymeal.com/7-things-you-didn-t-know-about-dr-pepper|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=History of Dr Pepper|url=http://www.drpeppermuseum.com/about-us/history-of-dr--pepper.aspx|website=Dr Pepper Museum|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306090627/http://www.drpeppermuseum.com/About-Us/History-Of-Dr--Pepper.aspx|archive-date=March 6, 2008|url-status=dead}} One possible reason that the name was chosen was the practice, common at the time of the drink's creation, of including Dr. in the names of products to convey the impression that they were healthful.{{cite web|last1=Mikkelson|first1=Barbara|title=Is Dr Pepper Made from Prune Juice?|url=http://www.snopes.com/business/secret/drpepper.asp|website=Snopes|access-date=August 12, 2017|date=March 20, 2015}}

A theory often cited is that the drink was named after an actual doctor, one Charles T. Pepper of Rural Retreat, Virginia. Morrison may have named the drink after the doctor in gratitude for Pepper having given Morrison his first job.{{cite book|last1=Rodengen|first1=Jeffrey L.|title=The Legend of Dr Pepper / Seven-Up|date=1995|publisher=Write Stuff Syndicate|isbn=9780945903499|pages=23–24}} However, Milly Walker, Collections Manager / Curator for the Dublin (Texas) Dr Pepper Bottling Co. Museum, has stated that U.S. Census records show that a young Morrison lived in Christiansburg, Virginia, {{Convert|40|mi|km|abbr=}} away from Rural Retreat, and that "there is not one piece of evidence that Morrison ever worked for Charles T. Pepper in Rural Retreat".{{cite web|last1=Flaherty|first1=Christopher|display-authors=etal|title=Was there ever really a person called Dr. Pepper?|url=http://stason.org/TULARC/indulgence/dr-pepper/1-3-Was-there-ever-really-a-person-called-Dr-Pepper.html|website=stason.org|access-date=August 12, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923080349/http://stason.org/TULARC/indulgence/dr-pepper/1-3-Was-there-ever-really-a-person-called-Dr-Pepper.html|url-status=live}} Another story tells of Morrison naming the drink after Charles T. Pepper because the doctor granted Morrison permission to marry Pepper's daughter,{{cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)|url=https://www.drpepper.com/en/faq|website=Dr Pepper|publisher=Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc.|access-date=August 13, 2017|archive-date=September 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905163728/https://www.drpepper.com/en/faq|url-status=live}} but the girl in question was only eight years old at the time that Morrison moved to Waco.{{cite book|last1=Rodengen|first1=Jeffrey L.|title=The Legend of Dr Pepper / Seven-Up|year=1995|publisher=Write Stuff Syndicate|isbn=9780945903499}}

File:Dr Pepper bottle.JPG

The period (full stop) after Dr was used intermittently in Dr Pepper logos until the 1950s,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xn5IhA7OAZsC&q=%22dr+pepper%22+%22period%22&pg=PA215|title=The Birthplace Book: A Guide to Birth Sites of Famous People, Places, & Things|author=Chris Epting|date=June 4, 2009|publisher=Stackpole Books |isbn=9780811740180}} when, after some debate, it was discarded permanently, for stylistic and legibility reasons.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

In 1951, Dr Pepper sued the Coca-Cola company for {{FXConvert|USA|750|k|year=1950|cursign=$|index=US-GDP|showdate=no}}, asserting that 6.5-oz. Cokes were sold below cost and were a restraint of trade.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/01/26/archives/pepper-sues-cocacola-action-in-chicago-for-750000-charges-monopoly.html |title=PEPPER SUES COCA-COLA |work=The New York Times |date=January 26, 1951 |access-date=August 17, 2016 |quote=Dr Pepper Bottling Co sues Coca-Cola Co for attempt at monopoly, Chicago, by forcing retailers to sell Coca-Cola below cost |archive-date=January 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103055214/http://www.nytimes.com/1951/01/26/archives/pepper-sues-cocacola-action-in-chicago-for-750000-charges-monopoly.html |url-status=live }}

In 1969, owing to Dr Pepper's legal success as being determined a "non-cola" soft drink, then President & CEO W. W. "Foots" Clements was successful in persuading the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York, the largest bottler and distributor of Coca-Cola in the world, to bottle and distribute Dr Pepper in the New York metropolitan area.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1975/september/dr-pepper-takes-on-coke/|title=Dr Pepper Takes on Coke|website=Dmagazine.com|date=September 1975 |access-date=February 15, 2022|archive-date=October 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015200710/https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1975/september/dr-pepper-takes-on-coke/|url-status=live}}

File:Dr Pepper bottles and cans as of 1971.jpg

In 1972, Dr Pepper sued the Coca-Cola company for trademark infringement based on a soft drink marketed by Coca-Cola called "Peppo".{{cite news|title=Dr. Pepper Is Suing Coke On Trademark |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 5, 1972 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/07/05/79471414.pdf}} Coca-Cola renamed their beverage Mr. Pibb.{{Cite web |last=Cusimano |first=Lauren |date=November 5, 2020 |title=The Untold Truth Of Mr. Pibb |url=https://www.mashed.com/273265/the-untold-truth-of-mr-pibb/ |access-date=March 11, 2022 |website=Mashed.com |language=en-US |archive-date=March 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311161354/https://www.mashed.com/273265/the-untold-truth-of-mr-pibb/ |url-status=live }}

Dr Pepper became insolvent in the early 1980s, prompting an investment group to take the company private. Several years later, Coca-Cola attempted to acquire Dr Pepper, but was blocked from doing so by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Around the same time, Seven Up was acquired from Phillip Morris by Hicks & Haas, the same investment company that had purchased Dr Pepper. Upon the failure of the Coca-Cola merger, Dr Pepper and Seven Up merged (creating Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., or DPSU), giving up international branding rights in the process. After the DPSU merger, Coca-Cola obtained most non-US rights to the Dr Pepper name (with PepsiCo taking the Seven Up rights).{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/COLA+KING+TO+BUY+GLOBAL+RIGHTS+TO+DR.+PEPPER,+CANADA+DRY-a083848617 |title=Cola King To Buy Global Rights To Dr. Pepper, Canada Dry |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=July 14, 2009 |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017214539/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/COLA+KING+TO+BUY+GLOBAL+RIGHTS+TO+DR.+PEPPER,+CANADA+DRY-a083848617 |url-status=live }}

Dr Pepper was a frequent player in the 1990s antitrust history of the United States. As part of these activities, economists and the courts have weighed in with the opinion that Dr Pepper is a "pepper" flavored drink and not a "cola". In 1995, the FTC blocked a merger between The Coca-Cola Company and Dr Pepper on grounds that included concerns about a monopoly of the "pepper" flavor category of soft drinks.{{cite web|url=http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1995/05/coke7.shtm|title=Coca-Cola And FTC To Settle Antitrust Litigation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203113254/http://ftc.gov/opa/1995/05/coke7.shtm|archive-date=February 3, 2009}} In 1996, Dr Pepper was involved in an antitrust case involving Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Properties, Nike, and other commercial interests active at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas.{{Cite news|author=Thomas Heath|title=NFL, Cowboys Settle Suits|newspaper=The Washington Post| page=F03| date=December 14, 1996}} Jones had made deals with Dr Pepper and the other companies that, the league said, violated their exclusive marketing contracts with Coca-Cola and other businesses. The NFL agreed to allow Jones and other teams to pursue their own agreements.

In 1995, Cadbury Schweppes acquired Dr Pepper/Seven Up.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/27/business/cadbury-to-purchase-dr-pepper.html | title=Cadbury to Purchase Dr Pepper | work=The New York Times | date=January 27, 1995 | last1=Collins | first1=Glenn }} In May 2008, Cadbury Schweppes spun off Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages into an independent company called the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, and renamed itself to Cadbury plc.[http://www.cadburyinvestors.com/cadbury_ir/shareholder_services/demerger/ Cadbury plc Demerger]. Retrieved on December 29, 2009. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213192026/http://www.cadburyinvestors.com/cadbury_ir/shareholder_services/demerger |date=December 13, 2009 }} On July 9, 2018, Keurig acquired the Dr Pepper Snapple Group in an $18.7 billion deal. The combined company was renamed "Keurig Dr Pepper".{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dr-pepper-snapp-m-a-keurig-factbox/factbox-jabs-empire-expands-in-soda-with-dr-pepper-snapple-deal-idUSKBN1FI2LG|title=Factbox: JAB's empire expands in soda with Dr Pepper Snapple deal|date=29 January 2018|website=Reuters}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/dr-pepper-keurig-merger-nears-completion-forms-board-2018-07-03|title=Dr Pepper & Keurig Merger Nears Completion, Forms Board|date=3 July 2018|website=Nasdaq|publisher=Zacks Equity Research|access-date=28 April 2022}}

File:Cannettes Dr Pepper.jpg (Belgium)]]

Presently, Keurig Dr Pepper relies on its own bottling group to bottle and distribute its products in more than 30 US states and Canada.{{Cite web |title=FAQ: All the answers about our drinks {{!}} Dr Pepper Canada |url=https://www.drpepper.ca/en/faq/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=drpepper.ca |language=en}} Coca-Cola and Pepsi have essentially stopped bottling and distributing Cadbury-Schweppes products in favor of in-house alternatives, although regional exceptions can be found.{{cite web |url=http://www.greatplainscocacola.com/ |title=Great Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company |publisher=Greatplainscocacola.com |access-date=November 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101161411/http://www.greatplainscocacola.com/ |archive-date=January 1, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

In Poland, Cadbury-Schweppes licensed distribution rights to PepsiCo, but currently distributes the product through Orangina Schweppes. In Mexico, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Norway, Cadbury-Schweppes owns the trademark and distributes the product. In Finland, the product is bottled by Sinebrychoff, which also bottles Coca-Cola Company's products.{{cite web |url=https://sinebrychoff.fi/tuotteet/dr-pepper/dr-pepper/ |title=Oy Sinebrychoff Ab |publisher=sinebrychoff.fi |access-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417201733/https://sinebrychoff.fi/tuotteet/dr-pepper/dr-pepper/ |url-status=live }}

Dr Pepper is available in Russia (though imported, generally from Poland – there's no local bottling), South Korea and Ukraine.{{Cn|date=December 2024}} Although no longer locally bottled in Australia or New Zealand, Dr Pepper is imported and sold by United States Foods, and many other small retailers in Australia, with the UK (sugar) version sold in the British sections of Coles and Woolworths supermarkets. Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper Cherry are available in Serbia only at selected NIS petrol and Gazprom petrol gas stations in 0.33L cans.{{Cite web |title=Spisak benzinskih stanica na kojima su dostupni Dr Pepper proizvodi |trans-title=List of petrol stations in which Dr. Pepper products are available |url=https://www.nisgazprom.rs/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Dr-Pepper-SSG.pdf |access-date=5 August 2024 |website=NIS}} Dr Pepper is not available in Thailand and North Korea.{{Cn|date=December 2024}} It is sold in Indonesia, where it is imported by PT Citra Gourmand Prima (formerly PT Armasco Prima) with its office in Sunter, North Jakarta.{{cite web|url=https://cdn.happyfresh.com/spree/images/attachments/06dbd108dfbf017233c3ea62a72b2dc87748c6e2-wide.jpg|format=JPG|title=Photographic image of can|website=Cdn.happyfresh.com|access-date=February 15, 2022|archive-date=February 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225063632/https://cdn.happyfresh.com/spree/images/attachments/06dbd108dfbf017233c3ea62a72b2dc87748c6e2-wide.jpg|url-status=live}}

• Dr Pepper has a line of jelly beans made by the Jelly Belly company.
• Hubba Bubba bubblegum produces a Dr Pepper-flavored edition. The gum is the same color as the soda.
• Dr Pepper collaborated with Vita Food Products to produce Dr Pepper Sweet & Kickin' BBQ Sauce and Dr Pepper "More than Mesquite" Marinade.{{cite web|url=http://www.famousfoods.com/drpepper.html|title=Dr. Pepper (BBQ Sauce & Marinade)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509071638/http://www.famousfoods.com/drpepper.html|archive-date=May 9, 2009}}
• Cosmetics company Bonne Bell includes Dr Pepper among its licensed soft drink-flavored "Lip Smackers" lip balms.
• Brach's has a line of hard candy that features Dr Pepper, Orange Crush, A&W Root Beer and 7 Up flavored hard candies in Brach's Soda Poppers.
• Dr Pepper has an ice cream topping syrup also manufactured by Vita Food Products in 2009 called "Dr Pepper cherry dessert topping".(UPC#072736042111)
• Dr Pepper also created an iPod skin cover, but it was discontinued.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}
• Dr Pepper Slurpee is sold by retailer 7-Eleven.
• Dr Pepper Flavored Freezies are available with Grape Crush and Hires Root Beer flavors.
• The Serious Bean Company makes a variety of baked beans using Dr Pepper in the sauce.{{Cite web|url=https://seriousbeanco.com/products/dr-pepper-baked-beans|title=Dr Pepper Baked Beans 6 Pack|website=Seriousbeanco.com|access-date=February 15, 2022|archive-date=February 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215002206/https://seriousbeanco.com/products/dr-pepper-baked-beans|url-status=live}}

{{overly detailed|section|date=January 2023}}

"Dr Pepper Time", according to one promotion, was at 10, 2 and 4 o'clock.{{cite book |last1=Cross |first1=Mary |title=A Century of American Icons: 100 Products and Slogans from the 20th-Century Consumer Culture |date=2002 |publisher=Greenwood Press |isbn=978-0313314810 |access-date=September 4, 2020 |url=https://archive.org/details/centuryofamerica00cros/page/163/ |pages=163–165}} During World War II, a syndicated radio program, The 10–2–4 Ranch (later titled 10–2–4 Time), aired in the Southern United States and other areas where Dr Pepper was distributed. The show featured the Sons of the Pioneers and Dick Foran.{{cite web|url=http://www.metnews.com/articles/2005/reminiscing121505.htm|author=Grace, Roger M.|title=Reminiscing: At 10–2 and 4 O'Clock, It Was Dr. Pepper Time|work=Metropolitan News-Enterprise|date=December 15, 2005|access-date=July 14, 2013|archive-date=September 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911170856/http://www.metnews.com/articles/2005/reminiscing121505.htm|url-status=live}} In the 1960s, the tune of the chorus of "The Glow-Worm" was used in ads, with lyrics which ended, "It's Dr Pepper Time!"

In the early 1960s, Dr Pepper promoted the idea of serving the drink hot with lemon slices in winter.{{Cite web|date=August 18, 2015|title=People Used to Heat Up Their Dr Pepper|url=https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/67488/people-used-heat-their-dr-pepper|access-date=March 16, 2021|website=Mentalfloss.com|language=en|archive-date=April 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409231415/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/67488/people-used-heat-their-dr-pepper|url-status=live}} This idea appeared in the film Blast from the Past initially set in the early 1960s. Also from around this same time period the phrase 'not a cola, not a root beer' was used in an advertising jingle for Dr Pepper.

Around 1967, Dr Pepper released the "Charge" ad:

{{blockquote|text=

Charge!!

Get Going Again,

With the Dr Pepper Difference.}}

In 1977, Jake Holmes wrote the lyrics to "Be a Pepper".{{cite web|date=April 24, 2003|title=Advertising Jingle Music Folio Books|url=http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/sheetMusicBooks/jingleFolioBooks.html|access-date=February 26, 2020|website=Classicthemes.com|archive-date=June 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610084438/http://www.classicthemes.com/50sTVThemes/sheetMusicBooks/jingleFolioBooks.html|url-status=live}} Earlier in the 1970s, Holmes and Randy Newman wrote another jingle entitled "The Most Original Soft Drink Ever".{{cite web|last=Gilmore|first=Nicholas|date=October 4, 2018|title=Barry Manilow: The Surprise Jingle Hitmaker|url=https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2018/10/barry-manilow-the-surprise-jingle-hitmaker/|access-date=October 23, 2019|work=Saturday Evening Post|archive-date=October 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023123717/https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2018/10/barry-manilow-the-surprise-jingle-hitmaker/|url-status=live}} Barry Manilow performed Holmes's jingle in concerts and on albums under the inclusion of "VSM – Very Strange Medley". A TV commercial was also created using the jingle and ran from 1977 to 1985.{{cite web|title=100 Greatest Commercials of All Time|url=http://www.drewbabb.com/100-greatest-commercials/commercials-page-seven.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525131738/http://drewbabb.com/100-greatest-commercials/commercials-page-seven.htm|archive-date=May 25, 2009|access-date=July 14, 2009|publisher=Drew Babb}} The song noted "It's not a cola, it's something much much more. It's not a root beer, you get root beer by the score."{{cite web|date=March 27, 2017|title=Chuck Berry's Recording Session for Dr Pepper|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgJfpexPfEc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/JgJfpexPfEc |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} The "Be a Pepper" series referred to fans of Dr Pepper as "Peppers" and often featured large crowd dance scenes, intricately choreographed by Tony Stevens[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOKP5hHo_i4C&dq=%22dr+pepper%22+commercials+%26+%22tony+stevens%22&pg=PA141 Jerry Mitchell] Creating Musical Theatre: Conversations with Broadway Directors and Choreographers. Lyn Cramer. Bloomsbury Publishing. December 2, 2013. and led onscreen by actor David Naughton. The chorus of the jingle as written by Holmes was:

{{blockquote|text=

I'm a Pepper, he's a Pepper,

She's a Pepper, we're a Pepper,

Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too?

Be a Pepper. Drink Dr Pepper.}}

This became grist for a number of pop culture references and parodies. One of the first was a July 1981 sketch on the program SCTV, in which an overly-excited injured man (Eugene Levy) extols the work of a "Dr Shekter" (Rick Moranis) who has been treating him. Levy and a group of patients wearing casts and crutches engage in their own elaborate dancing and singing ("Wouldn't you like to see my doctor, too?"), which Shekter first uses as an opportunity to explain his work, and then grows alarmed ("These people should not be dancing!"). In the 1982 film The Beach Girls, the slogan became "I'm a popper, he's a popper..."{{cn|date=November 2024}}

W.W. Clements, former CEO and president of the Dr Pepper/7-Up Company, described the taste of Dr Pepper as one-of-a-kind, saying, "I've always maintained you cannot tell anyone what Dr Pepper tastes like because it's so different. It's not an apple, it's not an orange, it's not a strawberry, it's not a root beer, it's not even a cola. It's a different kind of drink with a unique taste all its own."Rodengen, Jeffrey L., "The Legend of Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up", Write Stuff Syndicate, Inc., 1995, page 31

The 1980s "Out of the Ordinary" advertising campaign involved a series of post-apocalyptic commercials featuring a space cowboy and an alien sidekick seeking "something different" from a simple generic cola.{{Cite news | last=Lippert | first=Barbara | title=Dr Pepper fights cola wars with Godzilla | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19860120&id=UL8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6634,5361421 | location=St. Petersburg | newspaper=St. Petersburg Times | date=January 20, 1986 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The campaign also produced commercials featuring the movie creature Godzilla, where citizens of a Japanese town offered Dr Pepper as a libation. The commercials were prominently featured during the 1986 syndication of The Canned Film Festival, which was sponsored by the Dr Pepper Company.

File:TSM350 - 2015 - J.J. Yeley - Stierch.jpg driven by J. J. Yeley of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2015]]

As of 2009, the slogan of the product was "Drink it slow. Doctor's orders". Advertising supporting the slogan has celebrities with famous relations to the word "doctor" (Dr. Dre, Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Gene Simmons (writer of the Kiss song "Calling Dr. Love"), et al.) or who played fictional doctors (such as Neil Patrick Harris or Kelsey Grammer) endorsing the beverage. The ads culminate with the celebrity stating, "Trust me. I'm a doctor", followed by the new slogan appearing onscreen with a glass of Dr Pepper.{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/aw/creative/ad-of-the-day/article_display.jsp?creativeId=269782 |title=Dr. Pepper "Drink it Slow" |work=Ad of the Day – Adweek |date=August 1, 2008 |access-date=November 30, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828020901/http://www.adweek.com/aw/creative/ad-of-the-day/article_display.jsp?creativeId=269782 |archive-date=August 28, 2009 }}

The introduction of Dr Pepper Ten in 2011 featured a marketing campaign targeting men, citing market research suggesting that most diet soft drinks had been perceived as appealing primarily to women. The campaign featured overtly masculine imagery, including an action movie-themed television commercial denouncing other diet beverages as "lady drinks", a Facebook page featuring "Man'Ments", and the slogan "It's Not for Women". Some critics considered the campaign to be sexist.{{Cite web|title=Dr. Pepper Ten: It's 'Not for Women,' Macho Marketing Campaign Says|url=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/10/dr-pepper-ten-its-not-for-women-macho-marketing-campaign-says|url-status=live|access-date=January 20, 2022|website=ABC News|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012033753/http://abcnews.go.com:80/blogs/business/2011/10/dr-pepper-ten-its-not-for-women-macho-marketing-campaign-says/ |archive-date=October 12, 2011 }}

File:Donna Loren performing on Shindig.jpg) was the Dr Pepper Girl from 1963 to 1968.]]

In 1963, singer Donna Loren became a spokesperson for the company when she was selected in a nationwide search to be the "Dr Pepper Girl".{{cite web |url=http://www.donnaloren.net/ |title=Donna Loren Official Website |publisher=Donnaloren.net |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-date=December 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201015627/https://www.donnaloren.net/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/donnaloren.html |title=Donna Loren at Brian's Drive-In Theater |last=Walker |first=Brian J. |publisher=Briansdriveintheater.com |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-date=October 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017090020/http://www.briansdriveintheater.com/donnaloren.html |url-status=live }} National exposure followed for Loren as she promoted the drink via radio, print, television, calendars, billboards, and personal appearances. One of her first appearances for the company was as co-host with Dick Clark (whom she worked with regularly) of an ABC television special, Dr Pepper Celebrity Party.{{cite web |url=http://www.beachpartymoviemusic.com/default.asp |title=Music of the Beach Party Movies |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509163325/http://www.beachpartymoviemusic.com/default.asp |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |url-status=dead }}Independent Press Telegram 1963, November 17, p. 18 (Tele Vues).Cedar Rapids Gazette 1963, May 22, p. 12.

Donna Loren subsequently made hundreds of singing and personal appearances for Dr Pepper. In Dr Pepper—King of Beverages, Dr Pepper historian Harry E. Ellis wrote, "Sparkly, vivacious and gifted with a wonderful voice, Donna was an immediate success. She became widely known in a short period as "The Dr Pepper Girl", appearing at special events and on programs sponsored by the company. Miss Loren would figure prominently in Dr Pepper's plans for some five years, not only as an entertainer but doing commercials for radio and TV and appearing in many forms of advertising. She appeared on 24-sheet poster boards, point-of-sale and on Dr Pepper calendars."{{cite book |last=Ellis |first=Harry E. |year=1979 |title= Dr Pepper—King of Beverages| publisher=Dr Pepper Company |location=Dallas, Texas |page=219}}

Loren's role as Dr Pepper spokesperson led to her first appearance in the American International Pictures' Beach Party film Muscle Beach Party. Loren later explained: "Dr Pepper was involved in that [the Beach Party movies] and actually placed me as product placement. And because I could sing, they gave me a duet with Dick Dale, and then it just went on from there."{{cite web |url=http://mysteryisland.net/donnaloren |title=Donna Loren Interview |last=Hamlin |first=Brad |publisher=Mysteryisland.net |access-date=October 16, 2013 |archive-date=October 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017082302/http://mysteryisland.net/donnaloren |url-status=live }} From this, she went on to appear in three more Beach Party films. Away from the company, Loren was a familiar presence in the 1960s due to her many performances on television, films, and her records for Capitol, Reprise and other labels. She represented Dr Pepper until 1968.

From 1961 until 1981, Dr Pepper was also the sponsor of the Miss Teenage America beauty pageant.Terrace, Vincent. [https://books.google.com/books?id=BUvTYfLP624C&pg=PA259 Television Specials], p. 259 (2013)

On March 26, 2008, various media outlets reported that Dr Pepper would offer "a free can of Dr Pepper to everyone in America" – excluding former Guns N' Roses guitarists Buckethead and Slash – if the band released the long-awaited Chinese Democracy in 2008.{{cite magazine|url = https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046064/dr-pepper-sweetens-pot-for-chinese-democracy|title = Dr Pepper Sweetens Pot For 'Chinese Democracy'|access-date = March 27, 2008|author = Cohen, Jonathan|date = March 26, 2008|magazine = Billboard|archive-date = July 22, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140722020447/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046064/dr-pepper-sweetens-pot-for-chinese-democracy|url-status = live}} Later in the day, lead vocalist Axl Rose replied to Dr Pepper on Guns N' Roses' official website and spoke of his surprise at Dr Pepper's support. Rose also said he would share his Dr Pepper with Buckethead as "some of Buckethead's performances are on Chinese Democracy".{{cite web|url=http://web.gunsnroses.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080326&content_id=a1&vkey=news&fext=.jsp |title=Press Release from Axl Regarding Dr. Pepper |author=Rose, Axl |date=March 26, 2008 |publisher=Guns N' Roses |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114151536/http://web.gunsnroses.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080326&content_id=a1&vkey=news&fext=.jsp |archive-date=November 14, 2011 }} After it was announced that the album would be released in 2008, Dr Pepper stated that it would uphold its pledge.{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7688232.stm| title = Drinks firm to keep Roses pledge| access-date = October 24, 2008| date = October 24, 2008| work = BBC| archive-date = October 25, 2008| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081025010935/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7688232.stm| url-status = live}}

Dr Pepper's online distribution of free coupons upon the album's release November 23, 2008, proved inadequate. Lawyers for the band threatened Dr Pepper's parent company with a lawsuit two days after the album's release. In a letter to Dr Pepper, Rose's lawyer Alan Gutman said, "The redemption scheme your company clumsily implemented for this offer was an unmitigated disaster which defrauded consumers and, in the eyes of vocal fans, ruined Chinese Democracy's release."{{cite magazine |last=Paine |first=Andre |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266187/guns-n-roses-lawyer-blasts-dr-pepper |title=Guns N' Roses Lawyer Blasts Dr Pepper |date=November 26, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720051250/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266187/guns-n-roses-lawyer-blasts-dr-pepper |archive-date=July 20, 2014 |access-date=June 23, 2015 |magazine=Billboard }} Rose's lawyer also demanded that the company make a full-page apology that would appear in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7751919.stm |title=Rose angry over drinks giveaway |work=BBC News |date=November 27, 2008 |access-date=December 1, 2008 |archive-date=November 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081128031746/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7751919.stm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/axl-rose-files-lawsuit-against-dr-pepper-asks-for-apology-payment_article_12375 |title=Axl Rose Files Lawsuit Against Dr. Pepper; Asks For Apology, Payment |publisher=AccessHollywood.com |access-date=December 1, 2008 |archive-date=December 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205122231/http://www.accesshollywood.com/axl-rose-files-lawsuit-against-dr-pepper-asks-for-apology-payment_article_12375 |url-status=live }} In a later interview, Rose claimed he told his lawyers it was a non-issue and was surprised by their actions.{{cite web|url = http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=1973|title = Axl answers fans' questions on GN'R fan sites (transcripts)|access-date = June 23, 2009|author = Rose, Axl|date = December 13, 2008|publisher = HereTodayGoneToHell.com|archive-date = June 15, 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090615172248/http://heretodaygonetohell.com/news/shownews.php?newsid=1973|url-status = live}}

{{See also|List of food and beverage museums}}

File:Artesian bottling building 2008.jpg

The Dr Pepper Museum, located in the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company building at 300 South Fifth Street in downtown Waco, Texas, opened to the public in 1991. The building was the first building to be built specifically to bottle Dr Pepper. It was completed in 1906, and Dr Pepper was bottled there until the 1960s. The museum has three floors of exhibits, a working old-fashioned soda fountain, and a gift store of Dr Pepper memorabilia.

The company sells more Dr Pepper in the Roanoke Valley area of Virginia than any other metropolitan area east of the Mississippi River. Roanoke is approximately {{Convert|90|mi|km|abbr=}} east of the hometown of Dr. Charles T. Pepper, which is Rural Retreat, Virginia, and {{Convert|30|mi|km|abbr=}} east of Christiansburg, Virginia, home of Dr. Pepper and Morrison referred to in the census information above. John William "Bill" Davis opened the first Dr. Pepper plant east of the Mississippi in Roanoke in 1936; subsequently the city was named the "Dr Pepper Capital of the World" and broke world records for its mass consumption of Dr Pepper in the late 1950s.{{cite web |author=Christina Rogers |url=http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-46670 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915092830/http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-46670 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |title=Dr Pepper pops to life again |publisher=Roanoke.com |access-date=July 14, 2009 }} Dr Pepper donated a portion of its sales revenue in the Roanoke area to finance restoration of a circa-1950s neon Dr Pepper sign, which has the company's "10–2–4" logo from the time, in downtown Roanoke. In October 2015, the city of Roanoke declared October 24 (10–24) to be its official Dr. Pepper Day.{{Cite news|url=http://wsls.com/2015/10/20/roanoke-celebrates-10-24-as-dr-pepper-day/|title=Roanoke celebrates "10-24" as Dr Pepper Day|date=October 20, 2015|website=Wsls.com|access-date=December 10, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=January 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121144329/http://wsls.com/2015/10/20/roanoke-celebrates-10-24-as-dr-pepper-day/|url-status=live}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book

| last = Rodengen

| first = Jeffrey L.

| title = The Legend of Dr Pepper/Seven-Up

| publisher = Write Stuff Syndicate, Inc.

|year=1995

| isbn = 0-945903-49-9 }}

{{Commons category|Dr Pepper}}

• [http://www.drpepper.com/ Dr Pepper official website]
• [http://www.drpeppermuseum.com/ The Dr Pepper Museum]
• [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/did01 Dr Pepper Company] at Handbook of Texas Online
• [http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1995/05/coke7.htm FTC Statement on Coca-Cola Dr Pepper Merger]
• [http://www.templebot.com/ Temple Bottling Company, in Temple, Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302012122/http://templebot.com/ |date=March 2, 2021 }}
• [http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-06-05/news/boot-legging-dr-pepper/ Bootlegging Dr Pepper], June 5, 2008, by Robb Walsh, Houston Press
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170622083757/http://news-antique.com/?id=786922&keys=DrPepper-Original-Formula-HeritageAuction%2F Original Formula Found at Drug Store]
• {{cite web |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/05/04/2009-05-04_bill_waters_finds_dr_pepper_recipe_book_in_antique_mall_in_texas.html |title= Bill Waters finds Dr Pepper original formula in notebook in antique store in Texas |date= May 4, 2009 |work= Associated Press in the New York Daily News |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160307152251/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/money/bill-waters-finds-dr-pepper-original-formula-notebook-antique-store-texas-article-1.408223 |archive-date= March 7, 2016 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100419163654/http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/nutrition/caffeine-content-breakdown-beverages-4 Caffeine Content] for Dr Pepper flavors compared to some other beverages, Good Housekeeping

{{Keurig Dr Pepper brands}}

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{{Diet sodas}}

{{Portal bar|Drink|Texas|Food}}

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