In NC there is no distinctive term covering them all other than “drink” (sounds like drank), which covers more than just carbonated beverages. When you get down to different brands, we’re generally careful to refer to them by name. I suppose that’s because so many of them originated locally and regionally. Pepsi originated in New Bern, NC, originally known as “Brad’s Drink” (drank). “Brad” was Caleb Bradham, who was the drug store owner who came up with it in 1898. “Pepsi” arose after it became popular enough to bottle and they needed a trademark brand name. Pep. It was sold as a sort of pick-me-up energy drink much like the modern Red Bull or Monster. Coke originated in Atlanta. There’s a name for that in local dialect that you might still hear from older folks or way out in the country. “Co-coler.”
Tastes like very thin cherry cola to me.