Road Drink Rules
It’s finally Friday, and with warmer weather in full swing, gas prices on the rise and Memorial Day weekend staring us all in the eyes, there can only be one thing left on everyone’s minds: a roadtrip. And when I think of roadtrips, I think of those people who only say roadtrip by yelling it (Roadtriiiiiiiiiip!!!!). I think of loud music. I think of windows left perpetually down. But more than anything, I think of road drinks. Everyone has a beverage of choice while traveling. Everyone. So when you’re done reading, tell us what yours is. I want to see what America’s drinking behind the wheel.
For starters, my favorite road drink is Arizona Iced Tea Herbal Tonic. I get it every single time I’m inside the walls of a gas station. Now, it’s not iced tea. And it’s not like any herbal tonic you’ve ever had. It’s simply some fruity, yellow concoction that leaves me refreshed on a sunny day. And just so you all don’t think I have the worst taste of anyone you know, just try it the next time you’re on the road.
Now I say this knowing full well you’re not going to try it without getting your own drink of choice, too. It’s like some sort of gas station/highway rule of thumb we’ve all taken to heart at some point in our lives. Once you find a road drink, you don’t waver. Ever. And if you’re like me, aside from peeing, buying a drink is the only reason you’re even going in a gas station anymore. I just gotta have that AITHT. (It’s easier and less embarrassing for me to use an acronym when referring to my road drink of choice.)
What’s amazing about this phenomenon though is that most of us are choosing drinks from a gas station that we’d never keep stocked in our refrigerators at home. For some reason, we’ve all collectively decided that when we’re driving, the only thing that can cure our dusty tongues is a drink that we rarely get to enjoy. Or rather, choose to enjoy. Why is this? Why wouldn’t our go-to be a beverage we drink on a regular basis – a beverage we trust? The answer lies in the idea of a roadtrip itself.
If you’re going inside the walls of a gas station at all, you’re doing something you never do. If you’re roadtripping across the country, or even just a state away, you’re doing something you never do. So naturally, when you want something to drink, you reach for an ice cold something you never drink – except during these times of course. The only exception in this world lies with Dr. Pepper drinkers. This is the most loyal group of drinkers around. And they are the only ones that won’t waver when confronted with case after frozen case of delicious refreshment. Three cases of DP at home…I better spring for a 20 oz. bottle. It’s bizarre. But nonetheless, the rule remains strong among the rest of us.
So what is it you enjoy while tripping across the country? You know my guilty pleasure. And as for my fellow Surly Bird, well he’s all about Wild Cherry Pepsi. So what are you? A gas station fountain drink suicide guy? Or maybe a simple Nestea gal? Drop us a line and let us know.
Gotta go with Fresca!
No, but seriously…whenever I road trip I find myself buying Diet Mountain Dew and Planters sunflower seeds. And a box of Nilla wafers. I hate gas stations.
I roll with diet Sunkist Orange, gotta mind the diabetes.
I like the Fiji water and combos.
why, captain and coke zero, of course! see, the nice thing about coke zero is that it tastes great, aside from that nasty horse-dong-esque aftertaste. well guess what? the booze all but terminates any trace of it, leaving only the deliciousness behind! it’s like the coca-cola company designed it that way! brilliant!
Sobe Nirvana. Seriously, the only time I ever drink this is on a road trip. It washes down the road trip exclusive corn nuts and beef jerkey.
Cheerwine or Sunkist. If I can’t find either, then begrudgingly I will drink a Mountain Dew Code Red. I don’t know why. As for food. Slim Jims and Combos. Thank god I don’t take a lot of road trips.
[...] they enter the third or fourth hour and neither person has anything left to say. Silence, road, Wild Cherry Pepsi and an awesome driving/Americana themed mix CD. Perfect (For some reason whenever I think the word [...]