The History of Coca-Cola

This program traces the story of the quintessential American soft drink Coca-Cola. The exact formula of the popular soda has always been a secret, ever since it was devised in the lab of a Georgia pharmacy. But, as the story shows, one ingredient was the South American plant coca. In early days, so-called soft drinks, such as Coca-Cola and 7-Up, contained ingredients which gave the consumer a "lift." This put them in competition with the lucrative alcohol industry. Through the influential liquor lobby's efforts, coca was placed on the list of narcotics, and the composition and history of Coca-Cola was changed forever. These and other interesting facts are presented in this informative documentary, along with archival films, photographs, artwork, and interviews with the Coca-Cola family.