In '90s Revival, Crystal Pepsi Making Its Return To Store Shelves

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Hoping to tap into a fount of '90s nostalgia, Pepsi announced Wednesday it is reintroducing Crystal Pepsi -- the clear version of its cola that was briefly available two decades ago.

The clear soda was introduced in 1992 and was last available in 1993. It has since taken its place among Zubaz pants and the "Macarena" dance as a piece of oddball '90s pop culture.

It will again be available at major retailers in the United States beginning August 8. It will be available in Canada July 11. A  20-ounce bottle will carry a suggested retail price of $1.79, Pepsi said in a statement.

The soda maker is also rolling out a "Crystal Pepsi Trail" video game with a pixelated design reminiscent of the retro "Oregon Trail" computer game.

Fans of the drink have long lobbied for its return. An online petition calling for the re-release of Crystal Pepsi last year gathered nearly 39,000 signatures. Many social media users also began using the hashtag #BringBackCrystalPepsi to call attention to their efforts.

The effort was especially prevalent in the Los Angeles area, with about 15 billboards being spotted in the L.A. area last year calling for the drink's return.

It's just the latest shakeup at Pepsi, which earlier this week announced Diet Pepsi made with aspartame will return to shelves in the U.S. The company saw sales plummet following its reformulation of the drink last summer to remove the artificial sweetener.

Pepsi also said it will reintroduce bring back its Pepsi MAX drink as Pepsi Zero Sugar in the U.S. The drink will also contain aspartame.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)