(Photo Source: asia.nikkei.com)

Coca-Cola To Offer First Branded Alcoholic Drink

Coca-Cola is launching its first alcoholic drink in its long and storied history. Unfortunately, the drink won’t be hitting the shelves in the U.S. any time soon. Coca-Cola is test-driving an alcoholic seltzer called Lemon-Do in Japan. It will contain between three and seven percent alcohol and hits Japanese store shelves in October.

Lemon-do is already available on Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, and has been since May 2018. It comes in three flavors and has been a hit in the regional market.

Jorge Garduno, the president of Coca-Cola Japan, believes the drink will remain local, and alcoholic Coca-Cola products won’t appear outside Japan anytime soon.

“I don’t think people around the world should expect to see this kind of thing from Coca-Cola,” he said. “I think the culture here is still very unique and special, so many products that are born here will stay here.”

In the meantime, a Coke-coffee blend might be available in the United States soon. Coca-Cola is trying out a new coffee beverage that will be available in twenty-five countries by the end of 2019.

Cold coffee drinks have gained popularity since the last time Coca-Cola tried selling a coffee beverage, Coca-Cola Blak, in 2006. Coca-Cola Blak flopped on the market, but given the popularity of cold brews and espresso blends, they’re hoping the second time is the charm.