Chris Bennett, history teacher

Bennett was drinking Coke Classic “like it was water” as a teenager, he says, and has since then developed a passion for Diet Coke. 

Can you describe the sensation of taking a sip of Coke?

Oh, absolutely I could. There’s a certain tingling sensation that goes down the back of your throat, that’s the carbonation from the soda, especially if it’s nice and ice cold. And then from there, it has kind of a sweet sour taste that’s very appealing. And then obviously, from that, you get the caffeine kick.

What’s your soda schedule?

I stop at McDonald’s every morning, because there’s nothing better than McDonald’s fountain Diet Cokes. McDonald’s is near the top, if not the top. And then I refill throughout the day as necessary. 

Why is pop a fan favorite for teachers?

Caffeine. Period.

What would it be like to give up Coke?

I’ve done it a couple different times just to see if I can. It’s actually kind of fun because you realize there’s massive headaches that you have for a couple days, because you’re tied to the caffeine. But then, after a couple weeks, I’m kind of bored. And I’m like, “Why did I give it up?” and I forget the reason why, so I start drinking it again.

Do you have any soda stories?

My doctor wanted to see what would happen to my blood pressure if I gave up Diet Coke for a month. So I did. And we noticed that there was actually no difference in my blood pressure. So therefore, I started drinking it again. And the cafeteria staff is very happy about that, because I am a significant source of income for the cafeteria. I think most students should be happy that I subsidize the cost of their meals.