In 2017 you could get 3 for $10 . Crazy … I couldn’t care less about the inflation of all junk food. Including sodas and fast food.
Ah, soda. The bubbly, sugary nectar that has been our guilty pleasure for decades. It’s the drink that pairs perfectly with pizza, movie nights, and those moments when we just need a little pick-me-up. But let’s take a stroll down memory lane to 2017, a year that seems so recent yet feels like a lifetime ago in the world of soda prices. You might be wondering, what could possibly be infuriating about soda prices? Well, let me take you on this fizzy journey.
In 2017, the price of soda was a topic on Reddit that got people’s blood boiling—quite literally, if you consider the caffeine content. A simple trip to the grocery store revealed that prices had crept up, and not in a way that was justifiable. I mean, come on, how did a basic 12-pack of cola suddenly feel like it was priced like a rare vintage wine?
Now, let’s break this down. In 2017, the average price for a 12-pack of soda was around $5 to $7, depending on where you shopped. Sure, that might not sound too outrageous, but let’s remember that just a few years prior, you could snag the same pack for about $3. What happened? Did the soda fairy decide to sprinkle some magic inflation dust all over our beloved fizzy drinks? The economics of soda pricing is about as clear as a can of club soda—bubbly, but ultimately confusing.
One could argue that soda prices reflect the cost of production, transportation, and all those fancy marketing campaigns that have us craving that ice-cold can. But come on, are we really buying into the idea that the price of manufacturing has skyrocketed so much that we have to pay a small fortune just to quench our thirst? I mean, it’s not like they’re sending the ingredients on a first-class flight around the globe.
Let’s also talk about the effect of health trends. 2017 was a year when everyone seemed to be jumping on the health bandwagon. With the rise of sparkling water and health-conscious alternatives, soda was starting to look a little less appealing. Did the soda companies decide to jack up prices to compensate for the dwindling consumer base? It’s like the classic case of ‘if you can’t beat them, charge them more!’
And let’s not forget those pesky taxes on sugary drinks that started popping up in cities across the U.S. It’s like the government decided to take a sip of our happiness and tax it. In some places, you could feel the sting of the tax hitting your wallet harder than the bubbles hit your nose.
But enough about the economics of soda—let’s get to the real question: how did we as consumers respond to these price hikes? Did we rally together to protest the high prices? Did we take to the streets with signs that read, “Down with overpriced soda!”? Not quite. Instead, many of us just grumbled to ourselves and continued to buy it anyway. After all, when you’re craving that sugary sweetness, the last thing you want to do is give up on your beloved soda.
In conclusion, the price of soda in 2017 was a reflection of many factors, from inflation to health trends and taxes. While we might have been mildly infuriated by the rising costs, we still found a way to enjoy our fizzy drinks. So the next time you crack open a can of soda, take a moment to appreciate not just the deliciousness inside, but also the journey it took to get to your hands—complete with a side of inflation-induced frustration. Cheers to you, soda lovers!
Inspired by: “The price of soda in 2017” (r/mildlyinfuriating)