Soda Companies New Moves - Yay or Nay?

I was reading Ad Age today and saw two really interesting stories about Pepsi and Dr.Pepper. I thought I would share their new marketing tactics with you and see if you think its brilliant or if it falls flat?

Skinny Pepsi Can 
See full article at https://adage.com/article?article_id=148982




















Diet Pepsi is coming out with new packaging, the "skinny can", and an entire marketing campaign to support it. The can will still hold 12 oz. but will be over 6 inches tall and much slimmer. I think the new can is very attractive and is an interesting way to differentiate their product. Coke already has their own, unique, patented bottle that everyone is familiar with, so it only makes sense that Pepsi will follow suit.
A few problems with this idea -

• -Women's groups across the nation are saying that the can celebrates being "skinny" and is offensive to larger women. They think it will increase America's obsession with being thin and may increase the incidence of eating disorders.
• -They might not work in vending machines, which makes up approx. 10% of their sales
• -People are hesitant to change...New Coke or Clear Pepsi anyone?

Dr. Pepper's Mid-Calorie Soda

See full arrticle at https://adage.com/article?article_id=14898




















Dr. Pepper is releasing a mid-calorie version of its soda to appeal to men. The new version has 10 calories per serving, but is not technically a "diet drink", which many men refuse to drink because they find it to be feminine. Coke and Pepsi have tried similar campaigns with Coke Zero and Pepsi Max. Marketing efforts surrounding the new version of the soda includes packaging targeted toward men, a mobile "man cave" that will travel to six test markets, and commercials with lots of action.
A few problems with this idea -

• Coke Zero and Pepsi Max both originally failed in their marketing efforts - people were simply confused. Will Dr. Pepper 10 suffer the same fate?
• Coke Zero has NASCAR as a sponsor. Pepsi Max has the NFL. Dr. Pepper 10 does not have masculine, well known, national sponsor. This puts them at a disadvantage. 
• It actually claims to be a drink that is NOT for women in its advertising. Will this alienate their female audience?

So what do you guys think? Yay or Nay for these two marketing moves?