Dr. Pepper's Chinese Democracy Promise Kept

11/21/08 4:36pm

Now that Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy will arrive in stores on Sunday, Dr. Pepper is keeping its promise to supply every American with its product.

The soft drink company pledged in March that it would make its uniquely flavoured beverage available to everyone in the U.S. if Chinese Democracy shipped to stores anytime in 2008.

While company executives were probably as skeptical as anyone about the record coming out, it's a bit eerie that the album will arrive on Nov. 23. Why? Dr. Pepper contains 23 ingredients.

But come 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Dr. Pepper will make coupons for a free 20-ounce soda available on its website for 24 hours. They'll be honoured until Feb. 28. Canadians won't be able to claim a free can of pop.

"We never thought this day would come," says Dr. Pepper marketing VP Tony Jacobs. "But now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr. Pepper's on us."

Chinese Democracy has been streaming on Guns N' Roses' MySpace page since Thursday at midnight, and the response has been pretty overwhelming. The title track had already been played 930,000 times as of 3:30 p.m. EST. At least one person thinks the album was worth waiting 14 years for.