The Hunt For Solo Australian Soda: Where To Find It

where to find solo australian soda

Solo is an Australian carbonated soft drink with a lemon flavour. It was first launched by Tarax in 1968 and was then taken over by Cadbury-Schweppes in 1973. In 2009, Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd acquired Cadbury-Schweppes Australia and Solo. Solo is currently manufactured under license by Asahi Breweries. The drink's lemon flavour is inspired by Australian pubs' traditional non-alcoholic beverage 'pub squash' or 'lemon squash'. Solo is available in different variants, including Solo Zero, which uses artificial sweetener instead of sugar, and a lemon and lime-flavoured variant. You can find Solo on Amazon, the Australian Food Shop, and possibly on Sanza.co.uk.

Characteristics Values
Flavour Lemon
Carbonated Yes
Manufacturer Asahi Breweries
Launched 1968
Original Manufacturer Tarax
Alcoholic Variant Hard Rated
ABV 4.5%
Volume 375ml
Sugar Content 43.1 grams
Sugar-Free Variant Solo Zero
Other Variants Lemon and lime
Marketing Campaign Solo Man
Marketing Campaign Start 1970s

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Solo Australian soda history

Solo is an Australian, lemon-flavoured, carbonated soft drink. It was first launched by Tarax in 1968, inspired by Australian pubs' traditional non-alcoholic 'pub squash' or 'lemon squash' beverage. "Pub squash" is a drink made from sweetened lemon concentrate and water. Solo is a carbonated variant of this lemon squash.

In 1974, Cadbury took over the brand from Tarax, and in April 2009, Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd acquired Cadbury-Schweppes Australia and, in turn, Solo. Asahi is a foreign-owned private company owned by Asahi Group Holdings Limited, a Japanese brewery and soft drink company.

Solo's recognition amongst the Australian population has been attributed to the brand's long-lasting "Solo Man" marketing campaign, which began in the 1970s after the release of the drink. The campaign has featured numerous Australian actors, including Michael Ace, a former PE teacher and model, who starred as the first Solo Man in the 1970s and 1980s. Terry Creasey, the father of Australian actor and television presenter Joel Creasey, also portrayed the Solo Man in the 1980s. In the mid-1980s, Mark Robert Coutelas played Solo Man, donning a moustache and a mullet. In 2012, Australian actor Adam Demos played Solo Man, chasing a barrel of lemons down a hill and drinking the lemon juice on top of a cliff.

Solo has released different flavours over the years, including a lemon and lime flavour and a zero-sugar version that uses artificial sweeteners. In 2018, Solo's makers promised to reduce the sugar in their drinks by 20% by 2025.

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Solo Man marketing campaign

Solo is an Australian, lemon-flavoured, carbonated soft drink. It was first launched by Tarax in 1968, and then Cadbury-Schweppes took over in 1973. In 2009, Asahi Holdings acquired Cadbury-Schweppes Australia and, in turn, Solo. The drink's lemon flavour is derived from Australian pubs' traditional non-alcoholic beverage 'pub squash' or 'lemon squash'.

Solo's recognition in Australia has been attributed to the brand's long-lasting "Solo Man" marketing campaign, which began in the 1970s after the release of the drink. The Solo Man advertisements have featured numerous Australian actors, including Michael Ace, Terry Creasey, Mark Robert Coutelas, and Adam Demos. The campaign has traditionally portrayed Solo Man as a very 'macho', typically masculine man partaking in adventurous and extreme sports in order to 'earn' the drink.

In 2018, Solo's "thirst worthy effort" campaign by TBWA\Melbourne redefined the Solo Man by portraying him with a less macho presentation, partaking in more domestic activities such as constructing furniture and making costumes for a school play. The campaign featured outdoor, print, and AV for online and social media platforms and ran for six weeks.

In 2023, for the brand's 50th birthday, Solo launched its first campaign featuring "Solo Women", with world junior wakeboarding champion Chloe Mills and expert kayaker Dita Pahl joining in the adventure sports that made the brand famous in the 1970s and 1980s.

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Where to buy Solo soda

Solo is a popular Australian carbonated soft drink with lemon flavour derived from the traditional non-alcoholic beverage 'pub squash' or 'lemon squash'. It was first launched by Tarax in 1968 and has since been acquired by Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd.

If you are looking to buy Solo soda, one option is Amazon.com, which offers Solo Original Lemonade in 375ml cans. According to customer reviews, the product is well-packaged and tastes fresh. However, it is also noted to be quite expensive. Amazon also offers Solo Cream Soda in 20 oz bottles, which are available in packs of six.

Another option for purchasing Solo soda may be through online specialty stores or international food retailers, especially if you are located outside of Australia. One example is the Norwegian Foodstore, which offers Solo soda in 1.5-liter packages.

It is also worth checking local retailers, supermarkets, and convenience stores, especially if you are in Australia, as Solo is a popular drink in the country.

Please note that Solo is also the name of a Norwegian soft drink with an orange flavour. This drink is owned by Ringnes, Oskar Sylte, and Mack, and it is unrelated to the Australian Solo soda. When searching for Solo soda, ensure that you are getting the Australian version to match your request.

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Similar drinks to Solo soda

Solo is an Australian, lemon-flavoured, carbonated soft drink. It was first launched by Tarax in 1968 and was inspired by Australian pubs' traditional non-alcoholic 'pub squash' beverage.

There are a few similar drinks to Solo soda, with some being more similar than others. Here are some alternatives:

  • Rondo: This was a similar citrus drink sold by Cadbury Schweppes in the United States market during the late 1970s and 80s. Some people believe that Rondo and Solo are the same drink, as they have similar labels.
  • Squirt: This drink is considered a close comparison to Solo, although it is not quite as tart.
  • Polar's Half&Half: The grapefruit and lemon flavour of this drink is considered the closest alternative to Solo.
  • Mello Yello: This lemon soda is much milder and smoother than Solo.
  • Lemmy: This craft soda is said to be fairly similar to Solo.
  • Lemon Sour: Mixing Finest Call Lemon Sour with club soda or soda water can approximate the taste of Solo, although it will never be exactly the same.
  • Lemonade and Sprite: Mixing these two drinks together can create a drink that is "ok" but still not as good as Solo.

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Solo alcoholic variants

Solo is an Australian, lemon-flavoured, carbonated soft drink. It was first launched by Tarax in 1968 and was later acquired by Cadbury-Schweppes in 1973. In 2009, Asahi Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd acquired Cadbury-Schweppes Australia and, in turn, Solo.

Over the years, Solo has released different variants of its original lemon flavour, including a lemon-lime flavour and a zero-sugar version that uses artificial sweeteners. In 2018, in response to concerns about high sugar content, Asahi beverages and Solo signed a sugar reduction pledge, aiming to reduce sugar content by 20% by 2025.

In July 2023, an alcoholic variant of Solo was launched, called "Hard Solo". This drink contains an ABV of 4.5% or approximately 1.3 standard drinks per 375ml can. The Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code concluded that the branding of "Hard Solo" appealed to minors, leading to complaints. Despite arguments from Asahi Breweries, the parent company of CUB Premium Beverages, that the Hard Solo cans were distinct from the regular Solo cans with their black packaging and alcoholic markings, CUB eventually announced a rename of the drink.

"Hard Solo" is not the first alcoholic beverage inspired by Solo. Cadbury-Schweppes, the previous owner of Solo, sold a similar citrus-flavoured drink called Rondo in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. They also launched an energy drink in the US called Coolah Energy, which included lemon flavour and 150 mg of caffeine, with the tagline "Energy from Down Under".

Frequently asked questions

Solo Australian soda can be purchased on Amazon.com and from the Australian Food Shop, which offers worldwide delivery.

Solo is a carbonated lemon drink based on the Australian pubs' traditional non-alcoholic beverage 'pub squash' or 'lemon squash'.

A 375ml can of Solo contains 43.1 grams of sugar. In 2018, Solo signed a sugar reduction pledge, aiming to reduce its sugar content by 20% by 2025.

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