I used to drink the stuff as a kid (when Pepsi bottles held more than Coke ones did, and there was a ‘quality vs quantity’ advertising war running). I find them far too gassy and sweet these days. And it’s worth pointing out that, like beer, they are useless or even dangerous if you are seriously thirsty and beginning to suffer from dehydration. The huge amount of sugar requires more water than there is in the bottle in order to digest it. Beer is worse because it’s a diuretic, of course.

The best use for cola is as the non-alcoholic part of ‘spoek & diesel’ (the South African name for rum & coke).