Diet Coke Parties Gain Popularity in India Amid Aluminum Can Shortage

Shortages of aluminum cans have limited availability of Diet Coke in shops across India. Suppliers told Reuters that some orders were not being fulfilled due to the shortage, which stems from disruption in the Persian Gulf that accounts for around 9 percent of global aluminum production.

Diet Coke is not sold in plastic bottles in India unlike in most other countries. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to affect supply chains, with impacts extending beyond energy and cooking fuel to consumer goods. In response to the limited availability, some residents have turned the situation into a social event.

A 25-year-old marketing and design consultant in New Delhi organized a party dedicated to the drink after noticing it was sold out on several online delivery platforms. “It was a joke,” she said, describing herself as an “avid drinker” of Diet Coke.

The event on April 26 drew around 150 people who wore Coke-themed outfits, danced to house and pop music, and created their own Diet Coke concoctions. Attendees followed recipes shared by pop star Dua Lipa on TikTok that include additions such as pickle juice and pickled jalapeños.

“We had a cocktail menu, which we like to call the Coke-tail,” she said. The menu did not include alcohol. Tickets for the party sold out, and the gathering proved popular with Gen Z attendees seeking alcohol-free experiences.

Coke and drinks with alternative sweeteners has increased in India, where nearly 10 percent of the adult population is diabetic according to a 2023 study by the Indian Council of Medical Research. The country’s youth in particular has become more health-conscious.

At house parties, zero-sugar options have replaced regular Coke or Sprite bottles. The organizer had started an Instagram page dedicated to the beverage a month before the war in Iran broke out. She invited people to the first party with the promise of Diet Coke even though it was unavailable on delivery apps.

The venue obtained supplies through its distributor.

In the neighboring city of Gurugram, the head of marketing at the Marieta restaurant saw the first party gain attention on social media and reached out to host a second one. Tickets cost around $16 and include two cans of Diet Coke, mixers, snacks and Coke-themed decorations.

The event will also serve as a listening session for Drake’s new album “Iceman,” which drops the same day. The company did not respond to a request for comment on the shortages. The organizer said she had no idea that so many people would respond to the idea.

A second party is scheduled with assurances that enough Diet Coke will be available for all attendees.