Pop vs. Soda: Which Is It?

We sometimes don’t realize our strongest beliefs until they’re challenged. So, is it pop or soda for you? Or do you just call them all “coke?” The answer to pop vs. soda is going to depend on where you live (or maybe where you grew up), and we’re here to tell you why.

Remember, whether you say pop or soda or if you call every fizzy drink a coke, you can earn rewards on your favorite beverages in the Fetch app. 

Why we fight over pop vs. soda

Is it pop or soda? The answer: it depends. And in order to know why, we need to travel back in time a bit.

It might seem hard to believe, but there were arguments over what we call some things before the internet. The Great Pop vs. Soda Debate goes all the way back to the 1700s.

• 1767: Joseph Priestly accidentally infused water with carbon dioxide while making beer, and he naturally thought the best thing to do was taste this strange bubbling liquid. He found it to be delicious and started telling friends.
• 1798 or 1802: Accounts differ on the exact year, but right around 1800, people started calling carbonated water “soda,” because it was similar to spring water, which contained sodium.
• 1809: Ginger pop, the predecessor to ginger ale and ginger beer, was invented.
• 1812: “Pop” was used on its own for the first time to describe the bubbly beverage. Since it came from the noise of the cork popping off, maybe it was actually “POP!”
• 1863: “Soda pop” was coined to describe the combination of carbonated water, flavoring, and a sweet syrup. 
• 1880: “Soft drink” became one of the earliest alternative names for soda pop. 
• 1885: Dr. Pepper was invented, with Coca-Cola and Pepsi to follow shortly after.
• 1900 onward: As more and more carbonated drinks were invented, certain names took hold in particular regions, and it’s why we’re still asking “is it soda or pop” today.

Pop vs. soda map

Your parents didn’t have the internet to argue on, but if a relative came to town and said the wrong word for soda, you’d better believe they wouldn’t hear the end of it. That’s because what we call soda vs. pop depends on where we’re from. We’ve got a list for you, but you can also find your state on our pop vs. soda map!

States who say “soda”

Virtually all of New England says “soda”, but you’ll find it west of the Appalachians, too.

• Maine
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Massachusetts
• Rhode Island
• Connecticut
• New York
• New Jersey
• Maryland
• Virginia
• North Carolina
• Wisconsin
• Missouri
• Utah
• Nevada
• Arizona
• California
• Hawaii
• Alaska

States who say “pop”

• New York*
• Pennsylvania
• Delaware
• West Virginia
• Ohio
• Michigan
• Illinois
• Minnesota (it’s not Minnesoda, after all)
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Nebraska
• Kansas
• Oklahoma
• Colorado
• Wyoming
• Montana
• Idaho
• Washington
• Oregon

*Yes, New York uses both. The soda/pop divide runs through Rochester: the east of Rochester uses “soda” while west of Rochester uses “pop.” If you live in Rochester, you’ll find brother turned against brother at the supermarket.

States who say “coke”

It’s not pop vs. soda. It’s actually soda vs. pop vs. coke. 

Saying “coke” to mean any carbonated beverage (not just any cola) is the way of things in the Southern United States and neighboring regions.

• Kentucky
• Tennessee
• Arkansas
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Florida
• Alabama
• Louisiana 
• Mississippi
• Texas
• New Mexico

If you think saying “coke” is a bit odd, you might actually be in the minority: most English speakers in other countries will use “coke” instead of soda, pop, soda pop or most anything else.

States who say something else

• Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire still hold on to “tonic,” though “soda” is more popular.
• “Soda pop” is used by the Illinoisan writing this, who just wants everyone to get along. You’ll also find it used in the mountainous areas of the west, like Idaho and Utah.
• Southern Virginia and the Carolinas like to use “drink,” “cold drink” and “carbo” as well as “soda.” 
• “Soft drink” and “fountain drink” are pretty popular in the region between New Orleans and Dallas-Fort Worth.
• “Refresco” is the term used in many Spanish speaking areas of the United States.

Why do we call it a “soft” drink?

It used to be that if you went somewhere and ordered a drink, you would expect something with spirits in it (if not simply a glass of hard alcohol). 

In an attempt to curb Americans’ heavy drinking habits, soft drinks were recommended as an alternative. Initially any non-alcoholic drink, it quickly became another word for the most popular soft drink: soda pop.

Over the last two hundred years, there have been quite a few other, less popular names for soda, pop and soda pop: carbo, tonic, bellywash and sodiewater to name a few.

Use Fetch to earn rewards on whatever you call it

Soda, pop, carbo: whatever you call it, it tastes good. You already know that snapping your receipt in the Fetch app earns you points toward free gift cards (right?), but that’s just the start of the rewards.

Personalized pop offers

In the Fetch app, you’ll find personalized offers that encourage you to try new retailers or brands. Maybe you’re a diehard Dr. Pepper drinker or you always mean Coke when you order a “coke.” You’ll often find rewards for your preferred brands… as well as offers that encourage you to try something new. Find your next favorite soda and earn extra points!

Boosted beverage points

Another way to rack up more points on sodiewater is to look for boosted brands. You’ll see a small flame next to a brand in the Fetch app. The bigger the flame, the greater the boost. So stock up on a favorite when you know you’ll earn more points!

Fetch Shop sodas

Want to earn points for each dollar you spend on soda pop? Make your grocery orders in Fetch Shop. Just tap the shopping cart to the left of the camera icon at the bottom of the app. Then choose your favorite retailer (like Target or Sam’s Club). From there, you’re doing your shopping in Fetch and earning points on nearly everything you buy.

Find boosted bubbly beverages in the Fetch App

If you’re one of the many people who have a soda or a pop or a lower-case coke with your meal, there’s probably never a bad time to stock up. So open up the Fetch app, find the latest offers and boosted brands, and bring home your favorite bubbly beverage with a heaping helping of bonus points.