Dr Pepper is a carbonated soft drink created in the 1880s by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas. First nationally marketed in the United States in 1904, it is now manufactured and distributed by various companies depending on the country. While it shares similarities with cola, the American Food and Drug Administration has classified Dr Pepper as neither a cola, root beer, nor a fruit-flavored soft drink but as a "pepper soda." Among the many variants of Dr Pepper, Diet Dr Pepper stands out as a low-calorie option.
The Origins of Dr Pepper
The name "Dr. Pepper" was first used commercially in 1885, one year before Coca-Cola's introduction. Charles Alderton formulated it at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas. Store owner Wade Morrison liked Alderton's new drink. Patrons of Morrison's soda fountain began ordering a "Waco." Alderton gave the formula to Morrison, who named it Dr. Pepper.
In 2009, Bill Waters discovered an old ledger book with formulas and recipes in Texas Panhandle antique stores. The book included sheets and letterheads from W.B. Morrison & Co. Old Corner Drug Store, where Dr Pepper was first served in 1885. Faded letters on the cover spelled out "Castles Formulas." John Castles, a partner of Morrison's, worked there as early as 1880. One recipe, "Dr Peppers Pepsin Bitters," was of interest, leading to speculation it could be an early Dr Pepper recipe. However, Keurig Dr Pepper maintains it's a medicinal recipe for a digestive aid, not the Dr Pepper formula.
Theories about the drink's name abound. One suggests the name was chosen because doctors were often included in product names at the time. Another theory is that Morrison named the drink after Dr. Charles T. Pepper of Rural Retreat, Virginia, in gratitude for giving Morrison his first job. However, Milly Walker, Collections Manager / Curator for the Dublin (Texas) Dr Pepper Bottling Co., notes that census records show Morrison lived 40 miles from Rural Retreat and there is no evidence Morrison ever worked for Dr. Charles T. Pepper.
Legal Battles and Corporate Evolution
Dr Pepper has been involved in several legal battles and corporate changes throughout its history.
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In 1951, Dr Pepper sued the Coca-Cola company for $750,000, asserting that 6.5-oz. Coca-Cola bottles were deceptively similar to Dr Pepper bottles. In 1969, Dr Pepper's legal success as a "non-cola" soft drink led then President & CEO W. W. Clements to comment on its unique taste. In 1972, Dr Pepper sued Coca-Cola for trademark infringement based on a soft drink Coca-Cola marketed called "Peppo," which Coca-Cola renamed Mr. Pibb.
Dr Pepper became insolvent in the early 1980s, leading an investment group to take the company private. Coca-Cola's attempt to acquire Dr Pepper was blocked by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Around the same time, Seven Up was acquired from Phillip Morris by Hicks & Haas, the same investment company that had purchased Dr Pepper.
Dr Pepper was a frequent player in the 1990s antitrust history of the United States. Economists and courts have stated that Dr Pepper is a "pepper" flavored drink and not a "cola." In 1995, the FTC blocked a merger between The Coca-Cola Company and Dr Pepper due to concerns about a monopoly of the "pepper" flavor category. In 1996, Dr Pepper was involved in an antitrust case involving Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Properties, Nike, and other commercial interests at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. Jones had deals with Dr Pepper and other companies that the league said violated their exclusive marketing contracts with Coca-Cola and other businesses.
In 1995, Cadbury Schweppes acquired Dr Pepper/Seven Up. In May 2008, Cadbury Schweppes spun off Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages into the Dr Pepper Snapple Group, renaming itself Cadbury plc. On July 9, 2018, Keurig acquired the Dr Pepper Snapple Group in an $18.7 billion deal.
Dr Pepper Variants
Over the years, numerous Dr Pepper variants have been introduced, including:
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- Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper: An uncaffeinated version.
- Dr Pepper Cherry: A cherry-flavored, red-colored variety, which was the first new flavor added to the Dr Pepper family in 122 years.
- Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla: A cherry vanilla-flavored variety.
- Dr Pepper Berries and Cream: A berry cream-flavored variety.
- Dr Pepper Cherry Chocolate: Dr Pepper with a stronger cherry flavor.
- Heritage Dr Pepper: A sugar-sweetened version, made to represent its formula before switching to high fructose corn syrup.
- Dr Pepper Ten: A mid-calorie version sweetened with a blend of corn syrup, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium.
- Dr Pepper Vanilla Float: A vanilla ice cream flavor variant.
- Dr Pepper Dark Berry: A limited edition berry-flavored variety.
- Dr Pepper Strawberries & Cream: A strawberry cream-flavored version.
- Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut: A coconut-flavored version.
Diet Dr Pepper and its Variations
Diet Dr Pepper is the low-calorie version of Dr Pepper. Originally introduced as "Dietary Dr. Pepper," it was renamed "Sugar Free Dr. Pepper" in 1966 and then "Diet Dr Pepper" in 1987. Variations include:
- Caffeine Free Diet Dr. Pepper: Diet Dr. Pepper without caffeine.
- Diet Dr Pepper Cherry Vanilla: Low-calorie version of Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper.
- Diet Dr Pepper Berries and Cream: Low-calorie version of Dr Pepper Berries and Cream.
- Diet Dr Pepper Cherry Chocolate: A low-calorie cherry and chocolate flavored variety.
- Diet Dr Pepper Cherry: Low-calorie version of Dr Pepper Cherry.
- Diet Dr Pepper Cream Soda: A low-calorie version of Dr Pepper Cream Soda.
- Diet Dr Pepper Made with Real Sugar: A low-calorie version of Dr Pepper Cherry made to taste more like the original.
- Diet Dr Pepper & Cream Soda Made with Real Sugar: A low-calorie version of Dr Pepper and Cream Soda made to taste more like the original.
- Diet Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar: A low-calorie version of Dr.
- Diet Dr. Pepper Creamy Coconut: A low-calorie version of Dr. Pepper Creamy Coconut.
International Variations
Dr Pepper's formula and ingredients can vary by country. In the United Kingdom, Dr Pepper is manufactured with sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. However, in August 2014, the UK version was reformulated, adding Aspartame and Acesulfame K to reduce the amount of sugar. The German version of Dr Pepper, produced by Krombacher Brauerei, was reformulated with Sucralose and Acesulfame K, with a lower sugar amount than the initial UK sweetener reformulation.
Other international variations include:
- Dr Pepper Cherry (Germany): A cherry-flavored variant of the German version.
- Dr Pepper Vanilla Float (Germany): A vanilla-flavored variant of the German version.
- Dr Pepper Dark Berry (Mexico): Mexican release of Dr Pepper Dark Berry.
- Dr Pepper Cherry (UK): A cherry flavored variant of the UK Dr Pepper.
Marketing and Advertising Campaigns
Dr Pepper has used various marketing and advertising campaigns throughout its history.
The slogan "Dr Pepper Time" promoted the idea of drinking Dr Pepper at 10, 2, and 4 o'clock. During World War II, the syndicated radio program, The 10-2-4 Ranch (later titled 10-2-4 Time), aired in areas where Dr Pepper was distributed. In the early 1960s, Dr Pepper promoted serving the drink hot with lemon slices in winter.
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In 1977, Jake Holmes wrote the lyrics to "Be a Pepper," a jingle that became a successful advertising campaign. The "Be a Pepper" series referred to fans of Dr Pepper as "Peppers" and featured large crowd dance scenes.
W.W. Clements described the taste of Dr Pepper as one-of-a-kind, saying, "I've always maintained you cannot tell anyone what Dr Pepper tastes like because it's so different. It's not an apple, it's not an orange, it's not a strawberry, it's not a root beer, it's not even a cola."
The 1980s "Out of the Ordinary" advertising campaign featured a space cowboy and an alien sidekick seeking "something different" from a simple generic cola. The campaign also produced commercials featuring Godzilla. As of 2009, the slogan was "Drink it slow. Doctor's orders," with celebrities endorsing the beverage.
The introduction of Dr Pepper Ten in 2011 featured a marketing campaign targeting men. In 1963, singer Donna Loren became the "Dr Pepper Girl," promoting the drink via radio, print, television, calendars, billboards, and personal appearances.
Nutritional Information for Diet Dr Pepper
Diet Dr Pepper offers the taste of Dr Pepper without the calories or caffeine. According to product information, it contains the original recipe of 23 signature flavors blended into one unique calorie-free beverage, with no caffeine.
Nutrition Facts (per 12 oz can):
- Serving Size: 1 Can
- Servings Per Container: 12
- Calories: 0
Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.