20 Mind-Blowing Facts About Coca-Cola

16. Coca-Cola Launched The "MagiCan" Containing Cash Prizes In 1990... But Had To Quickly Abandon The Product Due To The Fact It Tasted Foul

On May 7, 1990, the Coca-Cola Company launched "MagiCans" in the US - special, mechanical cans that contained cash prizes or gift certificates, as well as a mixture of chlorinated water and foul-smelling ammonium sulphate, that were dispensed via spring-loaded tabs. Although the gimmick led to $4million-worth of cash and prize coupons being given away, it was abandoned less than a month after launch - partially due to the fact the pop-up mechanisms regularly malfunctioned, and partly because many of the customers tried to drink the disgusting chlorinated water after mistaking it for Coca-Cola.
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NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.