A “King-Size” Soda Used to Be 12 Ounces

This 1950s advertisement from can manufacturer MiraCans says it all: As compared with the 6.5-ounce bottles that had previously been in vogue, 12-ounce cans were considered a big deal at their advent. In the ad’s words, “2 full glasses in each 12oz. KING-SIZE CAN!”

Considering that 12-ounce cans are currently the standard size, that many movie theaters sell large sodas of 54 ounces or more for individual consumption, and that the likes of 7-Eleven sell 32-, 44-, and 64-ounce sodas, a time traveler from the ’50s might’ve had a hard time coming to grips with the soda landscape of today. As one Boing Boing commenter notes, “Just for reference, the average adult human bladder can hold between 16 and 32 fl.oz.”

(Sociological Images via Boing Boing)