As a whole, we are defined as a consumer society that thrives on the convenience and availability of the products made for us. In recent years, we have become quite piggish in our use of these goods. Corporations carefully monitor this greediness and constantly push the boundaries of their marketing campaigns and product volume. No corporation has done this better than Coca Cola, who has steadily increased it's product volume while still increasing the amount of sales. The product that they manufacture has surpassed grotesque in terms of how they appeal to consumers need for volume.
1886: This man, Dr. John Styth Pemberton, is the guy who invented and first marketed Coca Cola to his customers. At the time, the syrupy drink was sold only from a soda fountain at his pharmacy.
1894: When other retailers got wind of the beverages success, they jumped at its' profit potential and began to sell the soda in the Hutchinson bottle which holds approximately 10 ounces.
1916: The Coca Cola Company forms and bottling factories spring up around the nation. For convenience, the soda was scaled down to a 6.5 ounce size and packaged in a contoured bottle, so as not to be mistaken with imitation sodas. The contour bottle was patented shortly after.
1920: Coca Cola once again proves its ingenuity by packaging six contour bottles in an easy to carry container. Customers do not realize that six is a much larger number than one, and that they do not need that much sugar – the six bottle cartons sales skyrocket.
1950: Coca Cola pushes its consumers even further towards suffering a diabetic fit by reforming and reselling the 10 ounce bottle, then the 12 ounce and then the 26 ounce bottle for the very thirsty. The scary part is that, because of lack of technology, consumers are not informed that the soda product is not digested by their body and fulfills none of their daily water intake, but does fulfill all of their sugar intake.
1978: Years later, when consumers start to become easily enticed by proportion, Coca Cola takes advantage and markets the first 2 liter, plastic bottle. Ooos and Ahhhs are heard around the country. Thanks Coca Cola for taking such good care of us and the environment!
1985: The 3 liter eventually failed, but Coca Cola had high hopes that the public will be able to stomach this much carbonated caffeine. Problem was, the soda went flat before people could drink the entire bottle.
1996: And this was Coca Cola's big belly flop. A bottle the size of the customers hummer - 30 liters. It went flat 17 minutes from cap opening. The store's shelves were not strong enough to withstand it's weight. And most of all, thanks to the Internet, society had become more aware of the health hazards Coca Cola poses on their bodies.
According to The Onion, “Coke's decision to sell its product in what many consider to be overly large containers is not based on a specific study or survey of consumer demands, but rather on the company's desire to make a resounding display of its corporate might. 'The three-liter didn't fail because it was too big, but because it was not big enough," Coca-Cola CEO Vic Hertner said. "With our new 30-liter size, that won't be a problem. Two liters is nothing. I could urinate two liters for you right now. But 30 liters? That's untouchable.'”