Many people have fond (or not quite so fond) memories of Crystal Pepsi. Launched 17 years ago yet only available for roughly a year before being discontinued, Crystal was undoubtedly a commercial failure. But years after its demise, this clear, caffeine-free marketing misstep still seems to have a bit of life in it. 

Whether it’s because people go nuts over any little bit of nostalgia or they actually miss the unique cola-ish taste, there are many sites devoted to Crystal Pepsi today. But what were people saying when the product was launched?

To answer this question, I turned to the Internet. Now back in 1992, the WWW was barely out of the womb, so I looked to Usenet, the net’s original giant message board system. Not all Usenet messages have been preserved, but I found a few from the early to mid-90’s that shed a little more light on Crystal Pepsi.

First up: Hackers Love Crystal Pepsi (For Lunch)

From: je…@panix.com (Jeff Jonas)
Date: Mar 8 1993, 6:56 pm
Subject: Coke vs. Pepsi; the hacker choice? (was Re: CMU Coke machine)
To: alt.folklore.computers

I can’t say there are geographical reasons for Coke/Pepsi since the home of Coke is Atlanta and the home of Pepsi is the Carolinas (I can’t recall exactly what city is the “home” of Pepsi). Both are on the east coast.

At college (the Cooper Union, NY), Coke was the preferred beverage (Jolt didn’t exist yet) At work, Coke cans were taken before thePepsiwere exhausted, so Coke was preferred.  But when we’re lunching together these days, I see most of us have bottles and cans of Crystal Pepsi- the clear  pepsi with no color or caffeine. Coke has got to develop a clear cola to compete with Snapple and Pepsi for they’re really losing market share! I alternate Dr. Pepper and Crystal Pepsi at lunch. Dr. Pepper has an incentive: there are prizes under the caps such as free bottles.

Next: Something WORSE than Crystal Pepsi?

From: s1398…@UMASSD.EDU
Date: Jan 9 1993, 2:21 am
Subject: crystal pepsi
To: alt.whine

 If you think that crystal pepsi is bad, how about this. I went to
the store and found that they have CLEAR TAB… a rip-off of a lousy drink. I mean crystal pepsi is bad enough without a stinking copy cat, and Tab no less, I thought they stopped making those groovy pink cans of soda years  ago!
 AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Moxie is much better anyway

Finally: An Observation…

From: cs166…@sdcc5.ucsd.edu (Mark Rotenberg)
Date: Feb 7 1993, 7:35 am
Subject: Coke vs. Crystal Pepsi???
To: rec.humor

Anyone notice thatPepsi’snew product is named after a drug (Crystal Methamphetamine), just like Coke (Cocaine)?

“Pass me a little more Coke… No, I want some of theCrystal…”

There you go: people talking about Crystal Pepsi back when it was still available. In other news: I won a full bottle of Diet Crystal Pepsi that has turned a urine shade of yellow. Dare I drink it? I smell videocast!