How do they force restaurants, and who fines them? I've always thought those places just had a deal with whoever they chose.

Well, in the UK, if a restaurant/bar carries Pepsi, and the customer says that they want a Coke (as most do when asking for Coca Cola), the server is technically supposed to reassert that they are about to buy a Pepsi, rather than Coca Cola. I'm not sure whether this comes from the bureacrats in Whitehall, or the ones in Brussels.

Well, in the UK, if a restaurant/bar carries Pepsi, and the customer says that they want a Coke (as most do when asking for Coca Cola), the server is technically supposed to reassert that they are about to buy a Pepsi, rather than Coca Cola. I'm not sure whether this comes from the bureacrats in Whitehall, or the ones in Brussels.

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As for the topic, I find myself either referring to the the drink via the specific brand, or I will use the word "soda" for generic purposes "be right back, going to soda machine", for example. I know that I stand out from the norm, as people often question me as to why I call it soda... I've noticed that I tend to use a lot of Americanisms, such as "chips" for crisps, and things like "pants" and "khakis" for describing trousers.

My take is that the usage of 'Soda' and 'Pop' was always used a shorter term for soda pop.

American usage of any of the three major terms is because of the soda wars in the states. All restaurants are forced to carry only one brand of soft drinks, and can be fined if they carry rival brands (e.g. Pepsi Co. products and Coke products). The penality is so high that a place would likely rather shut down than handle the fine.

Therefore, if you are at a restaurant and the server asks "What would you like to drink?" and you want a soft drink, you respond with a phrase that asks the question of which grouping of products and special classes of soft drinks they have. So in Ohio, its typically "What kind of pop do you have?".

Having said that, I don't think many people ever use soda/pop/coke outside of such situations, as we're always more specific if someone is talking about anything outside of their generic usages.

I wish this was more covered.

Like I want to know what kidna deal Coke reached with Dr. Pepper, that it's now provided with the Coke products, when previously it was Pepsi only and Coke had to come up with Mr. Pibb.

Also, my local burgerking uses coke products, which is odd, considering I thought burkerking was owned by pepsi.  Franchise or no i'd think you'd be required to use pepsi.