If you’re outside of the Southeastern United States, you might think Dr. Wham is a cheap store brand imitation of Dr Pepper. However, it’s actually a similar drink that’s owned by the same company, Buffalo Rock-Pepsi. Dr. Wham is only available in Alabama, the Florida panhandle, and Columbus, Georgia. The limited supply is actually due to territorial rights. Dr. Wham is a regional substitute for Dr Pepper because Buffalo Rock-Pepsi doesn’t have the license to sell the more popular soft drink in those areas. Similar to a Diet Dr Pepper, Diet Dr. Wham contains 41.9 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounce can, which is an average amount for a soft drink.
Diet Dr. Wham Caffeine Content
Both regular and Diet Dr. Wham contain 41.9 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounce can. This is very comparable to Dr Pepper, which contains 42.6 milligrams in their regular formula and 44.1 milligrams in the diet version. Here’s a rundown of the caffeine amounts in several popular soft drinks, including their regular and diet variations:
Beverage | Caffeine in Milligrams Per 12 Ounce Drink |
Dr. Wham | 41.9 milligrams |
Diet Dr. Wham | 41.9 milligrams |
Dr Pepper | 42.6 milligrams |
Diet Dr Pepper | 44.1 milligrams |
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar | 41 milligrams |
Dr Pepper Caffeine-Free | 0 milligrams |
Coca Cola | 33.9 milligrams |
Diet Coca Cola | 46.3 milligrams |
Pepsi | 38.9 milligrams |
Diet Pepsi | 36.7 milligrams |
Mountain Dew | 54.8 milligrams |
Diet Mountain Dew | 55.2 milligrams |
Most diet sodas contain roughly the same amount of caffeine as their regular counterparts. Coca Cola is the only exception, with Diet Coke containing nearly 20% more caffeine than the standard formula.
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Are Diet Soft Drinks Healthy?
Sodas only contain a mild to moderate amount of caffeine, and diet sodas don’t have any sugar. This may lead you to think that they are a healthy beverage option, but not quite. While they may be the only safe soda option for individuals who can’t process sugar, diet sodas aren’t healthy for the public at large. Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose have been linked to devastating long-term diseases such as dementia. Additionally, it doesn’t appear that artificial sweeteners are any better at preventing sugar-related conditions such as obesity. An occasional Diet Dr. Wham probably won’t hurt, but there are certainly healthier beverages to work into your everyday routine.
How Much Caffeine Should I Consume in a Day?
When you consider how much caffeine you typically consume in a day, coffee is probably the first beverage that comes to mind. And for good reason. Soft drinks usually don’t have nearly as much caffeine as coffee, which has approximately 140 grams of caffeine per 12 oz. mug depending on the beans and brewing method.
However, the caffeine in coffee isn’t the same as the caffeine in a soft drink. Unless it’s been decaffeinated, coffee always contains caffeine naturally. Soda, on the other hand, must have caffeine artificially added to the formula. Both types of caffeine count towards the 400 milligrams maximum amount recommended by the FDA. This guideline is standard for average adults, but certain populations are advised to intake less, such as adolescents and pregnant women. Caffeine is strongly discouraged entirely for children under 12 years old.
Conclusion
Diet Dr. Wham contains roughly the same amount of caffeine as Dr. Wham, Dr Pepper, and Diet Dr Pepper. All of these soft drinks only have a mild amount of caffeine that hovers between 40 and 45 milligrams per 12 ounce can. Since there is no sugar in diet drinks, you might think that they’re a healthy option. However, the truth is you’ll want to limit your intake of artificial sweeteners since they’re linked with conditions that are hazardous to your health, just like sugar is.
You’ll also want to try to stick with the FDA’s guidelines of 400 milligrams of caffeine or less each day, including all sources besides Diet Dr. Wham such as coffee. Next time you’re in the Birmingham, Alabama area, you might want to try a can of Diet Dr. Wham to see how it compares to Diet Dr Pepper—and be sure to buy a couple packs if you like it since it’s only available regionally.
See Also:
- How Much Caffeine is in Dr Pepper 10? (Detailed Breakdown!)
- How Much Caffeine Is in Diet Dr Pepper? (Detailed Breakdown!)
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29159583/
- https://www.buffalorock.com/products/
- https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a16627/caffeine-content-breakdown-beverages/
- https://www.buffalorock.com/about-us/history/
- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171890/nutrients
- https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
- https://usrtk.org/sweeteners/aspartame_health_risks/