PRESS RELEASE

On the eighth of July 1982, Diet Coke was introduced in the United States. It was then the answer to many people's wishes – a Coca-Cola® without calories. Today it is the world's best-selling sugar-free carbonated drink. More than 119 million Diet Cokes are drunk every day and the drink is sold in 173 countries to the delight of diabetics and other health conscious people.

Sweden was the first country in Europe to get Diet Coke, which here goes by the name Coca-Cola light. Coke Light was launched with a grand gala at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on July 29, 1982. Although expectations were high, no one could have predicted how hugely popular the drink would become. Today, Coke Light has 40% of the global market for sugar-free soft drinks and is for many a part of their healthy lifestyle.

The following year, in 1983, Sweden became the first country in Europe to launch Coca-Cola light. Sweden was considered the perfect country to test the drink in, as the Swedes have historically proven to be curious and trend-conscious consumers. It was an immediate success in Sweden.

- Today Coca-Cola light is almost as classic as regular Coca-Cola and 24 years after it was introduced in Sweden, it is still a bestseller. In Sweden today there are 3 brands under Coke TM: Coca-Cola since 1953, Coca-Cola Light since 1983 and the latest addition Coca-Cola Zero since April 2007, says Peter Bodor, information manager at Coca-Cola Drycker Sweden AB.

The Coca-Cola Company is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Diet Coca-Cola by releasing a very small edition slim anniversary can in Atlanta, Coca-Cola's hometown. It will surely become a hot collector's item.

Dear child has many names…

• In most of Europe, the soft drink is called Coca-Cola light
• In France and Spain it is called Coca light
• In the French-speaking parts of Canada it is called Coke Diète
• In Puerto Rico in Spanish speaking areas of the US it is called Coca-Cola de Dieta
• In Latin America it is called Coca-Cola light
• In most English-speaking countries it is called Diet Coca-Cola
• And in Japan it has been called No Calorie Coca-Cola since April 2007

1982 was the year when:

• The group Iron Maiden released the album The Number of the Beast which reached number 1 in the UK album chart.
• IFK Gothenburg won the UEFA Cup in football after 3-0 against Hamburger SV.
• 17-year-old Mats Wilander becomes the youngest ever to win the French Open tennis championships.
• Steven Spielberg's film E.T. has its premiere in Sweden.
• Ozzy Osbourne bites the head off a bat at a concert
• Jessica Biel, Princess Madeleine and Asafa Powell were born
• Scandinavia's first test-tube baby was born at Sahlgrenska hospital in Gothenburg.
• Pacman was the most popular video game

Coca-Cola AB

Coca-Cola AB is responsible for the marketing of some of the world's best-known brands of non-alcoholic beverages on the Swedish market. The brands in our Swedish product portfolio are Coca-Cola®, Fanta®, Sprite®, MER®, Bonaqua®, Powerade®, fuzetea®, glacéau Smartwater® and Royal Bliss®. In Jordbro outside Stockholm, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Sverige AB produces approximately 1.4 million liters of beverage every day. All Coca-Cola in Sweden's PET bottles consist of 100 percent recycled plastic and are recyclable. For further information please visit coca-cola.se.

Source: Coca-Cola Sverige