In which city did Diet Coke debut in July 1982?

Diet Coke debuted in New York City in July 1982.

The Coca-Cola Company unveiled the drink on July 8, 1982, beginning its launch in New York City before expanding across the United States. It was the company’s first new brand to use the Coca-Cola trademark since the company’s creation in 1886, making the launch especially significant.

Diet colas had already become an important category. Coca-Cola had introduced Tab in 1963, partly because of an earlier policy against putting the Coca-Cola name on a diet product. The success of Diet Pepsi and growing demand for low-calorie soft drinks helped persuade Coca-Cola to launch a new diet cola under its flagship brand.

Diet Coke quickly became a major commercial success, overtaking Tab and establishing itself as one of the world’s best-known diet soft drinks. International expansion followed in 1983, when the product was introduced in numerous overseas markets, often under the name Coca-Cola Light. New York City was the debut location, not Atlanta, the birthplace of Coca-Cola.