Long-time peterme.com readers know of my love for the book For God, Country, and Coca-Cola: The Definitive History of The Great American Soft Drink and The Company That Makes It. The title of the book comes from a letter written by a former G.I., who, in his distress over the release of “New Coke”, claims that he fought WWII “For God, country, and Coca-Cola.” The book also points out how Coca-Cola followed the G.I.s in WWII to Europe, and how that was the beginning of their international distribution.
This comes up because this morning the paper had an article on how “California Troops Bring Starbucks to Afghanistan.” A couple of G.I.s have set up a faux Starbucks in Afghanistan, largely as a morale booster. I guess Coke Isn’t It any more.
It could be considered a good thing, since the syrup in coke and other sodas is part of what makes americans so obese. A movement ot coffee might be part of the solution. Also, because there is no salt in coffee, people are less likely to drink dozens in a row.