The sale of soft drinks had its humble beginnings with the use of coolers in the early 20th century. Today, most beverages are cooled by electric refrigeration to be consumed on site. Vending machines dispense soft drinks in cups, cans or bottles, and restaurants, bars and hotels use dispensing guns to handle large quantities. There are two methods for selling soft drinks in cups. In the «premix» system, the finished beverage is prepared by the soft drink manufacturer and bottled in five- or 10-gallon stainless steel tanks. The beverage tanks are connected to the vending machines where the beverage is cooled and dispensed. In the «Post-Mix» system, the machine has its own water and carbon dioxide supply. Water is carbonated as needed and mixed with flavored syrup when dispensed into the cup. In English-speaking regions of Canada, the term «pop» is widespread, but «soft drink» is the most commonly used English term in Montreal. [11] In 2006, the UK Food Standards Agency published the results of its survey on the benzene content of soft drinks,[55] which tested 150 products and found that four contained benzene levels above the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water guidelines. In 2008, Samantha K Graff published an article in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science on «First Amendment Implications of Restriction Food and Beverages Marketing in Schools». The article examines a school district`s policy regarding limiting the sale and marketing of soda in public schools and how certain policies can trigger a First Amendment violation. Due to budget cuts and loss of state funding, many school districts allow commercial enterprises to market and promote their products (including junk food and soda) to public school students to generate additional revenue.

Junk food and soda companies have acquired exclusive rights to vending machines in many public schools. Opponents of corporate marketing and campus advertising are calling on school officials to limit or limit a company`s power to promote, market and sell its product to students. In the 1970s, the Supreme Court ruled that advertising was not a form of free speech, but a form of business practice that should be regulated by the government. In Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council of 1976,[64] the Supreme Court held that advertising or «commercial speech» is to some extent protected by the First Amendment. To avoid commercial challenges to the First Amendment, public schools could enter into contracts that restrict the sale of certain products and advertisements. Public schools can also ban the sale of all food and beverages on campus without violating a company`s right to free speech. [65] Market control of the soft drink industry varies from country to country. However, PepsiCo and The Coca-Cola Company remain the two largest producers of soft drinks in most parts of the world. In North America, Keurig Dr. Pepper and Jones Soda also hold significant market share. [ref.

needed] Many sodas are acidic, as are many fruits, sauces, and other foods. Drinking acidic beverages over a long period of time and drinking continuously can erode tooth enamel. A 2007 study found that some flavored sparkling waters are just as erosive or more erosive than orange juice. [52] Soft drinks are packaged in glass or plastic bottles, tinless steel, aluminum or plastic cans, processed cartons, aluminum bags or large stainless steel containers. Some soft drinks contain measurable amounts of alcohol. In some older preparations, this resulted from the natural fermentation used to build carbonation. In the United States, soft drinks (as well as other products such as non-alcoholic beer) can contain up to 0.5% alcohol by volume. Modern beverages introduce carbon dioxide into carbonic acid, but there is speculation that alcohol could result from the fermentation of sugars in a non-sterile environment. A small amount of alcohol is introduced into some soft drinks where alcohol is used in the preparation of flavoring extracts such as vanilla extract. [36] Carbon dioxide gives the drink its sparkling, spicy taste and prevents spoilage. It is supplied to the soft drink manufacturer in solid (dry ice) or liquid form, which is maintained at a pressure of approximately 1,200 pounds per square inch (84 kilograms per square centimeter) in heavy steel containers.