Drinks

31. Being born and raised in Connecticut Soda was always the calling for any type of carbonated beverage.. from there you would specify the type ie. coke, pepsi, sprite soforth. As a kid I was sent to visit family in MO. I will never forget my cousin at the consession stand of a local ballfield ordering as she stated "a Coke". The kid behind the counter said "what kind?". She responded "Sprite". Boy was I confused!

Chris Merl at 7:37AM on Jul 10th 2007

32. I grew up in Philadelphia and in Philly brand names usually worked best when ordering a "soda." If you just said, "I'll have a soda," when asked, you'd probably get, "What kind?" in reply. Then, you'd name a brand or particular flavor like "Coke" or orange. This worked at the Jersey shore and continues to work in Washington DC where I live now.

Ellwood at 7:38AM on Jul 10th 2007

33. I'm sorry, the lady who said people in Florida call it "Pop", is so not right. I live in southern Florida. We call it "Soda" down here. But we DO speak a little Northern, and know, when all you snowbirds and tourist come here to visit and you ask for "Pop", we know what you are talking about.

Angie at 7:40AM on Jul 10th 2007

34. Growing up in Kansas City it was "pop". When we moved to Milwaukee my little sisters wanted "sodas". They were expecting to get a couple of scoops of ice cream with "pop" poured pver it. We quickly learned our regional lingo lesson!! ;)

Leslye at 7:41AM on Jul 10th 2007

35. Growing up in Michigan, it was pop. When I moved to California, it was soda or Coke. The same extends to Florida where I now reside.

Julie at 7:41AM on Jul 10th 2007

36. Growing up in CA, we called it Soda or a coke. And if I remember correctly, even the grocery aisle was labeled with 'Soda'. When I moved to Idaho, I quickly discovered that everyone called it Pop. It felt so weird to me . . . I still have not conformed, I still call it soda or coke. But guess how the grocery aisle is labeled? Pop.

D at 7:42AM on Jul 10th 2007

37. Isn't it odd though? So many names for the same thing.
Despite what I've read above, growing up in rural(so rural most people in Florida didn't know of it!) Florida both my husband's family and my own always called it soda. I don't recall funny looks at stores or restaurants either so I suppose many of us there called it that. Indeed I always though pop was the northern way to say it. Who knew?

Jennifer Stevens at 7:43AM on Jul 10th 2007

38. I was born and raised in Michigan, and we always called it a can of pop or a bottle of pop. Now I live in Georgia and I still ask for pop and have no trouble in anyone understanding what I want.

Barbara Kiella at 7:43AM on Jul 10th 2007

39. I've lived in Michigan all my life, it's always called "pop".

Dar at 7:48AM on Jul 10th 2007

40. Re: #8 I don't think your waitress was from Michigan. I've lived in Michigan my entire life and everyone I know says pop!

Beth at 7:51AM on Jul 10th 2007

41. Y was born and raised in Waukegan, Illinoie, 40 miles North of Chicago. Everybody called it "pop". Now that my 6 siblings have gotten old (late 40's++) and moved, they mostly call iy "soda". Ive had big arguements with them about this. I say they are going along with the crowd, being untrue to their roots! I have always taken pride in being different and I will always call it "POP". Soda sounds so phony and efeminate, it just fits in with the Californians much more than the Macho Midwesterners!!

Tom Dietmeter at 7:51AM on Jul 10th 2007

42. A poster mentioned "While some brands' names(Kleenex comes to mind) have become synonymous with the product itself, I do not think that has or should become the case with soda brands, which have distinct flavor differences." Well, Janice, you didn't grow up in Indiana then. In Indiana when I was growing up, all soda was called "Coke" regardless of the flavor. Not just colas, all sodas were called coke. Here is something that was common to hear when I was in high school:
"Want a coke?"
"Sure."
"What kind do you want? We got Pepsi and Sprite."

J Johnson at 7:52AM on Jul 10th 2007

43. Many years ago at my first job at a hotel in Fla, I was walking past the front desk where the desk clerk and a guest were vainly expressing "cultural differences". The desk clerk was trying to give the gentleman directions to a drug store to buy some tonic. The guest was becoming agitated because he wasn't being understood. I took the guest aside and showed the soda machine. He thanked me and I asked him from what part of Massachussetts he was from. He laughed and told me that he was from close to the Cape. He had a bigger laugh when I told him that I grew up drinking "Moxie", a regional carbonated drink from the Cape. Moxie has an unforgettable flavor. Either you like it or despise it.

John Cord at 7:53AM on Jul 10th 2007

44. I don't know where Lisa was in Michigan that they called it soda; I have lived in Michigan my whole life (except for 3 years in Australia, where, by the way, they call it a soft drink)and everyone I know calls it pop.

Gail at 7:57AM on Jul 10th 2007

45. I grew up in NYS and it was soda or pop. Someone told me once that a soda was served at the Five & Dime and consisted of a ice cream shake with soda water added. Now I live in FL and I still call my soft drinks a soda. However, if you go to Disney World and want a Pepsi you are out of luck as all they serve if Coca Cola products. Anyhow I will take mine with vanilla or cherry, thank you.

Susan at 7:57AM on Jul 10th 2007