Most "energy drinks" are both functionally "soda" (though more expensive) and owned by "Big Soda". Kickstart is a Mountain Dew brand, which is a PepsiCo propert

Most "energy drinks" are both functionally "soda" (though more expensive) and owned by "Big Soda". Kickstart is a Mountain Dew brand, which is a PepsiCo property. I'm not criticizing, mind--I really like the zero-calorie Monsters and I drink a lot of Diet Pepsi, though I seem to be the only person who likes the sucralose Diet Pepsi formulation whenever the topic comes up. The only time sugared soda ends up in my house is at parties for mixed drinks, 'cause I still can't countenance Diet Coke in a drink. (Diet ginger ale is pretty okay with Jameson's, though.)