Sorry Pibb, I’m A Pepper Now

How the “Woke” Coke Company drove the world’s biggest Pibb fan away

I fell in love with Mr. PiBB as a 10-year old kid in 1976. I’m from the New York City area, where Mr. PiBB was never available, and in its current incarnation as Pibb Zero, it’s still not available today (except on a very few Coke Freestyle fountains).
The summer of 1976 was a turning point. I was a huge fan of Julius Erving and the New York Nets of the ABA. Dr. Pepper and Sugar Free Dr. Pepper were the official drinks of the team and I…