January 17: Friday Pharmacy Fun Fact

What pharmacist created the famous soda, Coca-Cola, on May 8, 1886?

Answer: Dr. John Stith Pemberton!

That's right—Coca-Cola was created by a pharmacist! Dr. John Stith Pemberton created Coca-Cola syrup on May 8, 1886 and began selling it at his pharmacy, Jacob’s Pharmacy, in Atlanta, Georgia. It was on sale for .05 cents a glass and to this day is a staple of American culture.

REFERENCE

The Birth of a Refreshing Idea: Coca-Cola History. The Coca-Cola Company. https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/the-birth-of-a-refreshing-idea. Published 2019. Accessed January 17, 2020.

Stay tuned each week for our new series: the Friday Pharmacy Fun Fact! Impress your friends and colleagues with useful facts about the history of pharmacy, inventions created by pharmacists, and more. If you have a fun fact to contribute, email AAntrim@pharmacytimes.com, and it may be included!