Dr Pepper Ads Want You to Sip, Not Guzzle

Mayor to city's poor: Drop weight

(NEWSER) - Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to add sodas to the list of items New York City's 1.7 million food stamp users can't buy with the stamps. The mayor, as part of an aggressive anti-obesity campaign, has asked federal authorities for permission to ban food-stamp purchases of sugared drinks, the New York Times reports. "This initiative will give New York families more money to spend on foods and drinks that provide real nourishment," the mayor announced. More»

(NEWSER) - In the boom times, people quaffed energy drinks and the industry bloomed to its current $896 million in sales. Naturally, the Washington Post reports, the recession has produced a new star: “relaxation beverages.” Loaded with a somewhat questionable “calming” ingredient also in green tea, the drinks are on the rise. One slogan: “Slow your roll.” Another: “Unwind from the grind.” And Superliminal Purple Stuff Pro-Relaxation Formula doesn’t even need one. More»

Coke's Vio is only the latest in ill-conceived beverages

(NEWSER) - Coke is currently testing Vio, a carbonated-milk drink it hopes will capture the US market—but Time is a little skeptical. Here are some other misbegotten beverage ideas:

• Coors Rocky Mountain Sparkling Water. Prominent placement of the Coors logo made the company’s spring water look a lot like a beer.
• Thanksgiving Dinner Soda. Everyone likes Thanksgiving, but the idea of turning dinner courses into soft drinks—Turkey and Gravy, Green Bean Casserole, and Fruitcake were flavors—didn’t quite work out for Jones Soda.

Trial period for 'Vio' will assess whether US is ready for carbonated milk beverages

(NEWSER) - Coca-Cola has launched a consumer trial of Vio, a “vibrancy” soft drink that combines skimmed milk with a carbonated fruit soda, the Guardian reports. Vio is available only in New York as Coke measures demand for the beverage. Milk-based soft drinks are popular in Asia but have yet to find a foothold in American or European markets. More»