Have you ever wondered if there are countries without Coca-Cola? As it turns out, there are two countries where you can’t legally buy this iconic beverage: Cuba and North Korea.
Cuba:
- Cuba has been without Coca-Cola since 1962 due to long-term trade embargoes and sanctions. Interestingly, Cuba was one of the first countries outside the US to bottle Coke in 1906. However, the company left when Fidel Castro’s government began seizing private assets in the 1960s.
North Korea:
- In North Korea, Coca-Cola is also unavailable due to ongoing trade sanctions. Although there have been reports of the beverage being sold in a restaurant in Pyongyang, Coca-Cola states that if any drinks are being sold, they are smuggled in via the black market, not through official channels.
In the past, other countries like Myanmar, Vietnam, and China also faced periods without Coca-Cola due to various restrictions. Myanmar, for instance, couldn’t legally buy Coke until 2012, when the ban was lifted, and the company invested $200 million to restart distribution. Vietnam and China resumed availability of Coke in 1994 and 1979, respectively.
Despite these restrictions, the global presence of Coca-Cola remains robust, with these two exceptions highlighting the impact of international trade policies on even the most ubiquitous products.
Sources:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-without-coca-cola
https://www.statista.com/chart/26078/countries-that-dont-legally-sell-coca-cola/
