Coca Cola discontinues Lift, replaces with new Sprite flavour

After months of speculation, the drinks giant has confirmed the classic Australian drink has been removed from shelves – leaving fans disappointed.

A popular soft drink has been permanently removed from supermarket shelves, leaving many Australians disappointed.

Rumours Lift, a lemon flavoured fizzy drink owned by Coca Cola, had been axed began circulating on social media at the end of July much to the dismay of fans who labelled it “irreplaceable”.

Now news.com.au can confirm the carbonated beverage – which has been on sale since the 1970s – has been permanently axed to make way for a new lemon drink.

“Ready-to-drink formats of Lift will be phased out of stores by the end of September 2022, except for Glass 330mL which will be phased out by the end of 2022,” a Coca Cola spokesperson said.

However, there is good news for Lift fans, as the post-mix variety – a syrup based concentrate used in restaurants – isn’t being axed just yet.

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Coca Cola has confirmed it has axed Lift, a popular lemon soft drink loved by Australians. Picture: Pinterest

Rumours began circulating online the fizzy drink was being discontinued in July. Picture: TikTok/russeats

Consumers can now buy Sprite Lemon+ at Coles and Woolworths supermarkets, a variation on the traditional lemon and lime combination of Sprite.

“After listening to our customers, our focus is on our new Sprite Lemon+ range, which we believe will be popular with our existing Lift drinkers,” the spokesperson added.

But as many Australians have pointed out, there’s a major difference between the new drink and its predecessor.

Sprite Lemon+ and the Zero Sugar variety both contain caffeine, a stimulant that wasn’t found in Lift.

The drink also doesn’t have the same lemon taste, instead being billed as having a “stronger” flavour.

Coca Cola said Sprite Lemon+ was created to “refresh” people and took the classic Sprite flavour to “the next level”.

It has been replaced with new Sprite Lemon+. Picture: TikTok/lowcalsal

However the unexpected change to Coca Cola’s lemon drink offerings has left social media users upset.

Many have flooded a recent TikTok video showing the new Spite Lemon+ in a Coles supermarket with disappointed comments.

“Lift with caffeine added, great,” one user remarked.

“Why did they have to add caffeine,” another agreed.

Others argued Lift had gone downhill since its original recipe was changed in 2021 to be lower in sugar using an artificial sweetener.

“Lift changed their recipe a while back to be made with sugar alternative, they were probably trying to save it then,” one claimed.

“It used to actually be great but but it tastes like lemon water with zero sweetness now. What a shame because Lift used to taste great,” another chipped in.

Lift has been on sale since the 1970s. Picture: Pinterest

The new Sprite flavour contains caffeine. Picture: TikTok/brucesuperco

However some have praised the change, stating Spite Lemon+ is now very similar in taste to Solo, a competitor launched by Cadbury-Schweppes Pty Ltd in 1973 that is now owned by Asahi Breweries.

The lemon drink category is popular in Australia after being inspired by “lemon squash”, a non-alcoholic drink sold in Aussie pubs that is also known as “pub squash”.

Lift is also sold in New Zealand where Coca Cola have confirmed there are no plans as yet to also discontinue the item.

“Coca-Cola in New Zealand can confirm that Lift is not being discontinued here,” the company told radio show The Edge in August.

Reaction to rumours Lift was being cancelled back in July had been strong, with many declaring they were “not okay” with it.

“This better be a joke,” one Facebook user wrote.

“I’m absolutely not okay with this,” someone else said.

As one declared: “This is total bulls**t.”

“This drink is irreplacable,” another weighed in.