Most soft drinks of the day started off as health tonics. Health tonics were popular in the late 19th and early 20th century and were often made by pharmacists

Most soft drinks of the day started off as health tonics. Health tonics were popular in the late 19th and early 20th century and were often made by pharmacists and sold in their shops. That is why we had "soda fountains" in drug stores for much of the 20th century where you could go and have a drink that originally claimed a health benefit but eventually became just a treat.