🤔 Today's Trivia Question:

Which Soda Claimed it could “Dispel Hangovers” and “Take the Ouch Out of Grouch?”

Correct Answer: B) 7UP

7UP, the iconic lemon-lime soft drink, was originally formulated by Charles Leiper Grigg following the establishment of his St. Louis–based company, The Howdy Corporation, in 1920. Grigg developed a unique recipe in 1929, introducing "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda" to the market shortly before the tumultuous Wall Street Crash of 1929. This early version of what would become 7UP contained lithium citrate, a compound recognized today for its use in mood-stabilizing medications treating conditions like depression and bipolar disorder. The drink contained this ingredient until 1948, reflecting the era’s affinity for patent medicine products.

Initially named "7 Up Lithiated Lemon Soda," the beverage's title was simplified to "7 Up" by 1936. The reasoning behind the name "7 Up" remains a subject of debate. While the beverage manufacturer Britvic suggests that the name derives from the drink’s seven main ingredients, others speculate that the "7" references the atomic mass of lithium. Another claim from Britvic mentions the original seven-ounce packaging, which stood out against the six-ounce bottles used by competitors like Coca-Cola.

Ownership of 7 Up changed hands several times over the decades. Originally held by its founding families, it was sold in 1978 to Philip Morris. The brand underwent further sales, with the international division moving to PepsiCo in 1986 and the US operations going to an investment firm-led group, Hicks & Haas. The brand saw a merger with Dr Pepper in 1988, and following subsequent acquisitions, became part of Cadbury Schweppes in 1995. After several more transitions, it became part of the merged entity Keurig Dr Pepper in 2018.

For More Information Read thoughtco.com

Below: A mid-20th century jug of bottler's flavor for 7 Up: the syrup-like concentrate lacked sugar and was sold to franchisees then in this refillable form.