Diet Coke parties are all the rage in India as aluminum can shortage bubbles up

Iran warDiet Coke parties are all the rage in India as aluminum can shortage bubbles upThe closure of the Strait of Hormuz has choked the supply of aluminum cans in India and is taking Diet Coke down with it.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Ishika Gupta’s Diet Coke-themed party in Delhi, India, on April 26.Courtesy of Ishika GuptaShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 10, 2026, 8:30 AM EDTBy Mithil AggarwalLove of Diet Coke runs deep for Ishika Gupta, but it was the fear of losing her favorite drink that took the obsession to new heights.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is still rippling across the global economy, and disruption has been particularly acute in parts of Asia, touching everything from gas and energy costs to cooking fuel and fertilizers.But the shipping logjam in the Persian Gulf is also having unexpected impacts. In India, shops have struggled to keep Diet Coke on the shelves due to a shortage of aluminum cans.Suppliers told the Reuters news agency that some orders were not being fulfilled due to a can shortage caused by the situation in the Gulf, which accounts for around 9% of global aluminum production. Diet Coke is not sold in plastic bottles in India, unlike most other countries, leaving fans of the drink at risk of losing out.For Gupta, a 25-year-old marketing and design consultant based in New Delhi, it was an opportunity for fun, so she decided to throw a party celebrating the drink.“It was a joke,” said Gupta, describing herself as an “avid drinker” of Diet Coke. “I thought only me and two of my friends would show up.”Gupta’s party was a success with Gen Z, who she says are craving more alcohol-free experiences.Courtesy of Ishika GuptaThe party was a hit with Gen Zers, who she says are craving more alcohol-free experiences. Tickets were sold out, and attendees showed up wearing Coke-themed outfits, danced to house and pop music, a...