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Comment by prmoustache | Hacker News Reader

How does Gatorade relate to a monopoly? Every single supermarket chain sells its own clone and their are myriads of alternative beverage you can drink in every single place that sells Gatorade?

I just don't get it. What is the monopoly here? Beverages with weird non appetizing colors?

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There are many alternatives available but the GP is saying Gatorade nonetheless dominates the market. They aren't doing anything anticompetitive to achieve that domination, consumers just prefer them over the many alternatives.

That's the argument anyway, I don't know how much of that is true.

> There are many alternatives available but the GP is saying Gatorade nonetheless dominates the market.

Which market? Of beverage with too much sugar? I don't even think they are leader compared to other sodas.

The sports beverage market, don't be obtuse. I don't drink them, or soda, either but you don't see me feigning ignorance about what they are.

Gatorade isn't a sport beverage. You will never see it in a dedicated sport nutrition shop or alley for instance and it is probably consumed more by sedantary overweight diabetic people than people actually practicing sports. I have been an elite athlete for years and never seen anyone using gatorade in my races.

It was developed for young men doing late summer football practice. It is quite good for that use, or for manual workers doing a combination of cardio and strength work in very hot humid conditions while wearing protective clothing. I've painted houses in these conditions, and it can be hard to drink and keep down enough water; you also lose a lot of salt. Gatorade has salt and sugar in it but at relatively concentrations. You can make your own from scratch, but the bottles are studier and tend to stand up to more abuse

The original "sport" formula was very different and has gone through MANY rounds of revisions since then. Today it's much different than it was even just 20 years ago, when it was already much more palatable than the original formula. It started with a little sugar and a "lot" (moderate) amount of both potassium and sodium. For all practical purposes, today it has zero potassium, and the sodium is also much-much-much lower. The sugar is way higher than it used to be.

Gatorade was once a sports drink, but today it is not a sports drink - it is merely retained its marketing as a sports drink.

Here's a picture of sports people using Gatorade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatorade#/media/File:Baltimore...

It may not be a super high level sport drink, and many players have moved on to other drinks (biosteel seems popular in the NHL), but it's not like nobody uses it for its intended purpose.

I am pretty sure you are mistaking sponsorship and regular use. It is like when you are a RedBull athlete or taking part in a RedBull sponsored/organized event, you have to take a few sip of the product in front of the camera. That doesn't mean you are fueling your efforts with RedBull.

Actually, the Monster / Red Bull used during concerts/sports events/etc are just water in branded cans. It's called "Tour Water" and some of them can be bought by consumers at https://www.monstertourwater.com/en-us/

So just because you see athletes drinking "Gatorade" doesn't mean it's the same Gatorade that's sold in stores. It could be just water, or closer to the low-sugar original Gatorade formula with significant amounts of potassium and sodium added that the retail product lacks.

I don't care if you approve of it or no, I for one do not so spare me the nutrition lecture.

What you're doing is along the lines of "Wine, what's that? Do you mean poison grape juice??" You know what it is, stop being obnoxious.

Drinks with what you crave.

I can't buy G2 in a store any more, but they keep it at taco bell because it's all owned by the same company.

Ngl I want to blow my life savings on a taco restaurant just to strong them into an antitrust, that's how much I miss it.

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