Bubbly carbonation brings a bizarre sensation to young teens these days. With about one vending machine for every twenty-three people in the world, it’s obvious for the temptation to gulp down another can. What about Harrisonburg High School? We have our own vending machines. Many of them are filled with water, yet the business is seen at the ones dispensing soda.

So many of these companies have burnt out their wallets to reel in every teenager, parent and child. The more of us, the more money pocketed. Coca-Cola and Pepsi alone spent around $100 billion last year on advertising. Very few people seem to go a day or two without tasting such a wonder.

Nicholas Deutsch, a junior this year, stands for representing the unfamiliar-off brand sodas.

“Well I prefer Sierra Mist, because Coke products tend to hurt my tummy,” Deutsch said. A survey was asked among the students on “ what is your favorite soda?” and Deutsch was one of the few to comment that he fancied Sierra Mist over Sprite.

Though Deutsch doesn’t drink soda often he tends to find time whenever he finds enough money to purchase himself a bottle.

“The sugary blast, combined with the carbonation that surges towards my taste receptors, provides an experience which leaves me wanting more,” Deutsch said. No wonder Sierra Mist is a beloved choice by Deutsch.

Sierra Mist contains around 39 grams of sugar. This is equivalent to consuming ¼ a cup of sugar by itself.

“If I were diabetic then yes [it would be unhealthy], but until then, no,” Deutsch said.

The results of the survey were in close range of each other. The favorite of Harrisonburg High schoolers was Coca-Cola, which was followed by Sprite and Mountain Dew. An odd soda that made its way into the polls was cream soda, a common favorite by a few sophomores. Sierra Mist, liked by Deutsch, came in with a whopping one vote.  The final tallies of the poll can be seen below.

Ryan Showalter, a sophomore, also enjoys the taste of the more rare sodas. He is in support of cream soda that is bought and drunk from the bottle.

“There is a difference between water and what you normally drink like juice. It gives it some more “texture” and a different feeling as you drink it,” Showalter said.

The amount of flavor naturally and the ability to manufacture cream soda in so many different ways to get the optimal flavor is why cream soda has matured into a popular drink from the past.

The only company Showalter drinks from is IBC, or the Independent Breweries Company created in 1919 within the growing city of St. Louis, Missouri. Eventually bought by Dr.

Pepper, the cream soda production has continued to provide great tasting soda unique old fashioned style.

Turns out that cream soda has 47 grams of sugar, which received no reaction from Showalter.

“In excess it definitely would be, but since cream soda, especially, in general is rather rare it hasn’t yet affected me,” Showalter said.

The tables are constantly turning in which soda reigns supreme at Harrisonburg. The sodas from the past could be making their comeback, who knows, but soda is just like any other drink. It’s quenching. Fills you right up for a certain period of time before you find yourself reaching over for another can of dearest favorite.