The Coca-Cola Company introduced Sprite in the United States in 1961.
Sprite is a clear, lemon-lime flavored soft drink created to compete in the growing market for citrus sodas. Coca-Cola had already used the name Sprite in marketing materials before the modern soft drink appeared, including imagery associated with a character called Sprite Boy.
The drink was developed after the success of lemon-lime products in Europe. Its launch gave Coca-Cola a major non-cola brand alongside Coca-Cola itself, and Sprite later became one of the company’s best-known global beverages.
Sprite is sometimes confused with 7 Up because both are clear lemon-lime sodas. They are separate brands owned by different companies. Sprite’s U.S. launch date is also distinct from the drink’s earlier development and international expansion.