Data from YouGov Omnibus shows that while people have mixed feelings about Crystal Pepsi, the majority miss the '90s
Due to popular demand, which includes an online petition signed by over 38,000 people, Crystal Pepsi will make its triumphant, yet limited-time, return to store shelves on Monday, August 8.
While the clear, caffeine-free cola, originally launched in 1992, has left an indelible mark on the mind of many customers clamoring for the drink's return, not everyone remembers it with such affection. Much like our report on soda consumption by city, or map of the US according to which beer each state recommends most, data from YouGov Omnibus shows that different regions have different opinions of Crystal Pepsi. In the Northeast (home of PepsiCo), for example, 48% of people say they like the drink and 32% say they dislike it. In the South (home of Coca-Cola), the inverse is true.
To promote the re-release, Pepsi has launched a nostalgia-laced website and computer game called "The Crystal Pepsi Trail," a riff on the classic game "The Oregon Trail" that includes plenty of '90s slang and fads, such as pagers and Tamagotchi.
When we asked the public to name popular products, people, or things that most define the 1990s, we received a variety of answers — from Bill Clinton to Monica Lewinsky, grunge to hip hop, Beanie Babies to Y2K. Most of all, however, people leaned toward technology, such as cell phones, personal computers, and the internet, as the decade's most iconic items.
When asked if life was better in the '90s, however, a decent majority of people said they prefer the decade over today. This sentiment held true across all ages, races, and genders. Even Democrats, Republicans, and independents all agreed that the period that gave birth to Crystal Pepsi was a superior one. Perhaps that bodes well for the soda's throwback marketing campaign.
For full poll results and margin of error see here.
