In the Mountain West, the ‘Dirty’ Soda Rush Is On
www.nytimes.com
With locations now numbering in the hundreds, regional soda-shop chains are spreading far beyond Utah, where they first found popularity.

"What if we took soda, made it even less healthy, served it in styrofoam cups, and added a massive carbon footprint to the whole thing?"

Also, that picture in the article of the drive-through with like 7 identical looking cars...

  • Oso_Rojo [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Utahns are the most childish people on earth. It’s a state full of adults who treat themselves and others like babies. All of these soda guzzlers are in a permanent state of arrested development

        • mars [none/use name]
          ·
          3 years ago

          I think it's the combination of that evangelical "send your 19 year old boys on 2 year missions to Paraguay" kind of commitment with the american corporate aesthetic. Like when you look at the kind of people who make it to the top of the mormon ladder, their all like lawyers and real estate guys and that kind of thing. So that's what's "cool." Like ,if you've ever talked to mormons, or especially their missionaries, the combination of "we're here to teach you about the one church that gives you any chance of happiness or fulfilment in this life or the next" with pressure tactics that were obviously lifted from the sales practices of the 50s is just a hell of a ride.

    • ennuid [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      They have really good carbonated-water drinks, and because carbonated water itself is disgusting they mix it with fresh fruits and sugar-free syrups and stuff

      I bet she brushes with kids' toothpaste

      • Oso_Rojo [he/him, they/them]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Mormons are pretty insular and don’t like dealing with the world outside of their community. This leads them to retreat from mainstream culture into their own spaces, like this soda business. It’s basically a replacement for cafés and bars since Mormons don’t drink coffee or alcohol, and are uncomfortable around those who do.

        The best example I can think of is CleanFlicks, which was a business that censored movies for Mormons (they don’t watch R-rated movies). I think there are still iterations of this business that still exist in Utah.

        Other things that I consider childish that are wildly popular in Utah are an obsession with Disney and Harry Potter, children’s games for adults (lots of 20-somethings still play tag and do scavenger hunts and shit as part of church activities), and expecting adults to act like obedient children to parental church authorities.

        I grew up in Utah so I see most of them as kids raising kids, but I’m probably more sensitive to it than most people tbh