The History of 7UP Soda

Charles Leiper Grigg invented 7UP in 1929. He created the lemon-lime soft drink in response to the rising popularity of Orange Crush, which was putting pressure on the market for his previous creations, Whistle and Howdy (both orange-flavored beverages). The first version of 7UP was called Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda and contained lithium citrate, which Grigg claimed was beneficial for customers’ moods. The ingredient was later banned for use in soft drinks in 1948 and the soda’s recipe was reworked. As for where the name 7UP comes from, there are several theories, ranging from a connection to gambling to a hangover cure to inspiration drawn from cattle branding, but no one knows for certain. 7UP is now well-known for its lemon-lime flavor and engaged in several high-profile ad campaigns in the 1950s and 1960s to help build its reputation among consumers, including a Disney-designed cartoon mascot named Fresh Up Freddie. Today the brand offers several additional flavors, including the popular Cherry 7UP. As of 2021, 7UP ranked as the 10th most popular soda in the United States and is still a beloved soft drink today.