• YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world
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    15 hours ago

    I’m essentially a socialist and believe in taxation and public health

    However, what I despise about the Sugar Tax in the UK is that the drinks companies used it as an excuse to reformulate the vast majority of soft drinks, swapping sugar for Acuflame K and aspartame.

    A small percentage of the population (but a significant number of people) taste these sweetners as bitter.

    I am one of them. Basically all soda that’s been reformulated is undrinkable now to me. I’d describe the taste as a sort of soapy, chemical flavour that’s extremely bitter and artificial.

    They even wrecked my national drink Irn Bru, which is basically the worst thing to happen to Scotland since Thatcher!

    Only a handful of drinkable beverages remain. Coca-Cola refused to reformulate (likely a hangover from their 80s PR disaster), and you can get a few imported drinks at specialist stores at a premium price.

    Unfortunately the majority of folk can’t taste the difference so we are where we are. I guarantee you, if everyone tasted this shit like we do the sales would plummet.

      • YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world
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        6 hours ago

        It’s actually still around in a weaker ‘original’ flavour that has all the sugar but is less fizzy and has no caffeine. It costs more and you don’t get the buzz, but it’s drinkable.

    • CucumberFetish@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      13 hours ago

      These sweeteners taste very artificial to me, but not like soap. Still, I have found only one drink where the sweeteners aren’t off putting.

      Fentimans had amazing sodas that were perfect as mixers. Now they overpower every other taste with the sweetener taste. It is a shame.

      Too many companies go with artificial sweeteners and the selection of palatable soft drinks should be documented in the Red List.

      • ɔiƚoxɘup@infosec.pub
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        9 hours ago

        Wow. I’d totally stop drinking soda. Further sugar is bad for you, but the weird shit the artificial aweetners do to your satiation reflex is, I think, arguably worse.