What Happened to SoBe Drinks?

What happened to SoBe drinks? The extremely ‘90s bottled beverages emblazoned with a signature lizard was a sign of status at school lunch and beloved by many. And then, suddenly, it was gone. SoBe drink fans noticed when the SoBe line of drinks mysteriously disappeared. And, understandably, they had questions. What happened to SoBe drinks, exactly? Were SoBe drinks discontinued? Let’s pour out some answers. Here’s everything you need to know about what happened to SoBe drinks. 

What are SoBe drinks? Who owns SoBe drinks?

If you aren’t a diehard drink fan, you might be wondering, “What was that SoBe lizard drink, again?” So, let’s start with a little history about the company. 

Originally called the South Beach Beverage Company, SoBe launched in 1995 with one product: SoBe Black Tea 3G (the three Gs being ginseng, guarana, and ginkgo). The bottles were originally made of glass, and yes, they had a lizard on them. It was popular enough that PepsiCo took notice, and purchased SoBe in 2000. 

What were the SoBe drink flavors?

SoBe has had a bunch of variations, including more tea flavors (Lemon Tea, Red Tea 3G, Oolong Tea 3G, and more), energy drinks, and other “elixirs” like Tsunami, Wisdom, Fuerte, and the much lamented “Sobe pink drink” Strawberry Daiquiri flavor. SoBe also briefly had a carbonated soda which was called Mr. Green. It was marketed as a tie-in for The Grinch movie. 

What happened to SoBe drinks?

Despite having so many products in its portfolio, SoBe began struggling in the mid-2000s, due in part to the rise of more popular non-soda options like energy drinks. Another issue was that PepsiCo didn’t quite know what to do with SoBe—PepsiCo owns similar brands like Lipton, which they prioritized. Also worth noting is that in 2007, PepsiCo switched from the glass bottles to plastic, depriving SoBe drinks of their iconic packaging. 

Are SoBe drinks discontinued?

After years of declining sales, PepsiCo quietly took SoBe off U.S. shelves altogether a few years ago. While they still have a website and are not entirely dead, SoBe products are now all but impossible to find. 

Can you still buy Sobe drinks?

Technically, yes. But it’s complicated. As per the SoBe website, eight SoBe drink flavors still have regional availability. For example, if you’re in or around the town of Groton, Connecticut, our research indicates that you can still purchase SoBe Elixir Citrus Energy and SoBe Elixir Liz Blizz Pina Colada at Liquor Palace. And you can find bottles on eBay, select online stores, and some brick-and-mortar retailers—but be prepared to pay way more than you did in the early 2000s. We’ve concluded that if you do manage to somehow find SoBe in bulk—buy it. It’s an investment at this point.

Are Sobe drinks gluten free?

Kinda. Per the brand, “We don’t make gluten free label claims, but none of the ingredients in our products are derived from grains or flours that have been linked to malabsorption syndrome associated with gluten sensitivity.” So, drink with caution if you are gluten intolerant. Also, drink with caution because most SoBe drinks are antiques at this point. 

Are Sobe drinks alcoholic?

No. Unless you put alcohol in them. In which case, now they are.

Are Sobe drinks vegan?

Though SoBe drinks do not seem to have any animal products, it’s always best practice to check individual labels.

Will SoBe drinks ever come back?

Given recent trends, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising if PepsiCo brought SoBe back at some point for a limited run for nostalgia purposes. Alas, until then, we’ll just have to content ourselves with the memory and our SoBe lizard tattoos.