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Imagine being so addicted to your beverage of choice that you couldn't go two weeks without it.
Jill Zarin, also known as one of the Real Housewives of New York, went on a European cruise and tour with her family, but not before packing enough of her favorite beverage to get her through the two-week trip.
The Real Housewife's travel excursions were recorded by her daughter, Ally Shapiro, who has a popular TikTok of travel stories, "get ready with me" videos, and "outfit of the day" videos.
Upon landing, Zarin spoke to the @allyshaps TikTok channel like a classic influencer, describing how she packed for the trip:
"So, I've smuggled in the Diet Coke from the United States, because they don't sell it in Europe."
"They only have Coke Lite and Coke Zero, and it sucks."
Zarin then bit her lip and confessed:
"But I think one of them exploded."
Filming the video, Shapiro said in a voiceover, totally taken by surprise:
"She literally packed a suitcase of Diet Coke."
There turned out to be two cans of Diet Coke that had broken during the trip and leaked all over inside the suitcase, but all of the bottles were intact.
Given the fact that Zarin had filled an entire double-sided suitcase with Diet Coke, "enough for two weeks," losing just two cans was impressive.
You can watch the video, here:
As oddly impressive as that was, TikTok could not get over Zarin's idea that Diet Coke was not available in Europe.
Though Coke Lite and Coke Zero are more common than Diet Coke, Diet Coke is still available, especially in inland locations of Europe and all across the United Kingdom.
The difference is that many of the sweeteners and additives that are used in American-produced soda are banned from use in the European Union, so sodas are often not as sweet-tasting as their American counterparts.
Because of the number of people who came forward to say that Diet Coke was available, the comments were turned off in the first video.
In a second video, however, Zarin argued that Coke Lite was "supposed to be" Diet Coke but did not taste the same.
The Real Housewife explained that she called the cruise line ahead of time to see what they would be offering on the ship, and they said they would have Coke Lite, Coke Zero, and regular Coke available for passengers, but not Diet Coke.
Zarin reiterated:
"It may look like Diet Coke, but it says Coke Lite, and it doesn't taste like Diet Coke. It just doesn't."
You can watch the video, here:
In another video, Zarin continued to dig in her heels while at a cruise stop in Florence, Italy.
"[While on the stop], I'm desperate, so I bought a Coke Zero, which is the closest to the Diet Coke flavor in this country (Italy)."
"Coke Lite doesn't taste like Diet Coke, and I keep saying, they use different sugar here, they have different bottling plants, and it's not a bad thing, it just isn't..."
"I'm used to Diet Coke. That's what I like. That's what I want."
"I am not a fan of this (the can of Coke Zero), but I'm desperate, so I'm going to have to, you know (drink it)."
Shapiro then added in the background:
"So, real Diet Coke addicts know. If you know, you know."
Zarin agreed:
"If you know, you know."
You can watch the video, here:
Some fellow TikTokers agreed with what Zarin was talking about.
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But others cautioned the Real Housewife, pointing out why her drink tasted so different.
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Some also questioned Zarin's "addiction" to Diet Coke.
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Everyone has a favorite beverage, but some are more adamant about their preferences! Packing an entire suitcase of Diet Coke, and posting multiple videos about it, makes us suspect Jill Zarin is preparing for a future Tedx Talk...