Is It Safe to Drink 40-Year-Old Cola? Hiker's Review After Drinking and Leaving Some Behind

Two Cans Produced in the 1980s Found in the Mountains
"The Taste Was Like Regular Cola, but the Carbonation Was a Bit Weak"

A hiker in Japan made headlines after it was revealed that he drank a Coca-Cola can that had been manufactured over 40 years ago on the mountain.

Japanese media outlet ‘Hint Pot’ reported on the 25th the story of a netizen using the nickname ‘Torichan,’ who climbed Kitadake Mountain in Yamanashi Prefecture, the second highest peak in Japan after Mount Fuji.

While hiking Kitadake Mountain recently with a senior, he found two Coca-Cola cans. These colas were products manufactured around the 1980s. The cans had phrases reflecting the era, such as “Put empty cans in the trash bin and do not throw them out the car window.”

Torichan took one can each with his senior, but unlike his senior who did not open the cola, he opened the can and drank its contents. He said, “The taste was like regular cola,” adding, “The carbonation was slightly weaker than today’s cola, and it had a somewhat smoother taste.”

Photo of 40-year-old cola drunk by Torichang [Image source= SNS capture]

He also said, “If I hadn’t been told it was old cola and it was served in a glass, I don’t think I would have noticed,” and reported that despite drinking cola that was over 40 years past its expiration date, he experienced no particular adverse symptoms.

Torichan posted photos and his story on social media on the 21st, which became a hot topic among Japanese netizens. He said, “I didn’t expect it to get this much attention,” and added, “I think it’s because people of all ages love cola.”

Meanwhile, experts advise that consuming food or beverages past their expiration date, even if contained in cans, is absolutely not recommended.

In 2022, in Busan, a can beverage that was 7 years past its expiration date came out of a vending machine installed inside Dongnae Station on Busan Metro Line 1. A middle school student who drank it complained of stomach pain and received medical treatment at a hospital. At that time, the vending machine operator who sold the drink was fined by the local government.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.