Sprite is a soft drink brand owned by The Coca-Cola Company. It has alcohol (ethanol) but in trace amounts.
In other words, no one will get intoxicated by drinking Sprite. It is commonly enjoyed worldwide by children and adults without people feeling any effects of an alcoholic beverage.
How Much Alcohol In Sprite?
A 1996 study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology found the alcohol content in Sprite and other sodas to be “1/40th the concentration that is in beer (4-5%)”. Drinking a can of soda would be equal to roughly a sip of beer and will not have any meaningful physiological impact on the body.
Why No Alcohol Warning?
Sprite and other soft drinks do not have an alcohol warning on their cans or bottles. This is because the alcohol content is so minimal that it is not required to be disclosed based on the rules of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA does not require beverages to carry a health warning statement if they contain less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume. Sprite and other sodas contain less than 0.5 percent based on studies.
Coca-Cola has informed consumers on its website that its sodas may contain alcohol. In the past, The Coca-Cola Company has stated the following:
“Trace levels of alcohol can occur naturally in many foods and beverages. Governments and religious organizations have recognized that such minute levels are considered acceptable in nonalcoholic foods and beverages.” [Soure]
Sprite Alcohol Source
The Coca-Cola Company and other soda companies are not deliberately adding alcohol to their soft drinks. Rather, the alcohol reportedly comes from the fruit used as a natural flavor in sodas. This fruit ferments which causes the sodas to contain a trace amount of alcohol by the time the consumer drinks it.
Final Thoughts
Most people will have no issues drinking Sprite knowing it has a trace amount of alcohol. We suspect that the majority of people who enjoy Sprite routinely have no idea alcohol is even in it. Unless you are following a strict no-alcohol diet, feel free to enjoy your Sprite without the worry of intoxication.
Image Credit – Chris Bee/flickr
