Coke alcohol content: Did you know that Coke and Pepsi contain alcohol and probably always have, according to new research findings?

The findings by the French National Institute of Consumption (INC) have come as a shock to many who have thought that by having a soft drink, they are abstaining from alcohol.

It has caused concern among religious groups, drivers, and other people who have chosen to be teetotal yet may have been consuming alcohol in their favourite soft drinks without even knowing it.

The research was carried out on cola drinks from major brands as well as supermarket own brands and suggests that the alcohol levels are around 10mg in every litre – about 0.001 per cent alcohol by volume.

Interestingly, however, it is only the major brands including Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, and Coke Zero that contain alcohol – there was no alcohol found in any supermarket colas.

It’s unclear how the alcohol gets incorporated into the drinks because both Coke and Pepsi say alcohol is not an ingredient in their recipes. One likely cause is alcohol is formed through the fermentation of organic ingredients during production.

A spokesperson for Coca-Cola said Coca-Cola drinks were ‘soft’ and recognised as such ‘by the government authorities in which they are sold’.

Coca-Cola was invented by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in 1886. Coca-Cola currently offers more than 500 brands in over 200 countries or territories and serves 1.6 billion servings each day. Pepsi was also invented by a pharmacist in 1893 and was named Pepsi Cola after the pepsin and cola nuts used in the recipe.

John

John has dedicated his life to finding treatment for those with addictions and supporting their families.
A business manager for 20 years in the construction industry John’s own experience of addiction led him to found his own rehab centre group in Scotland.
John qualified as a counsellor for people with substance misuse during his time working as a therapist and manager for the foundation. He also trained as an interventionist and appeared on ITV as a consultant helping families impacted by addiction.
He has helped thousands of people in recovery and his knowledge of the rehabilitations process and the addiction experience is unparalleled.

About the author

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John

John has dedicated his life to finding treatment for those with addictions and supporting their families. A business manager for 20 years in the construction industry John’s own experience of addiction led him to found his own rehab centre group in Scotland. John qualified as a counsellor for people with substance misuse during his time working as a therapist and manager for the foundation. He also trained as an interventionist and appeared on ITV as a consultant helping families impacted by addiction. He has helped thousands of people in recovery and his knowledge of the rehabilitations process and the addiction experience is unparalleled.