What if everything doctors told you about sugar was wrong? Elizabeth Sullivan from Fort Worth, Texas proved that sometimes the rules don’t apply to everyone. She drank three Dr Peppers every single day for over 40 years and lived to be 106 years old. Her story became famous when she started telling reporters that the soda was her secret to a long life, and she had outlived multiple doctors who warned her to quit.
Elizabeth Sullivan started her Dr Pepper habit at age 64
Most people think of retirement as a time to slow down and eat healthier, but Elizabeth Sullivan had different plans. She began drinking three Dr Peppers a day when she was 64 years old, which means she maintained this routine for more than four decades. Sullivan wasn’t just casually sipping soda either – she had a specific schedule and treated her Dr Pepper consumption like medicine.
The timing of her habit makes it even more interesting because she started during an era when people were becoming more aware of sugar’s effects on the body. Sullivan lived in the same Fort Worth home since 1942 and maintained her independence well into her 100s. She kept her driver’s license until age 103 and never lived in a nursing home or with relatives, choosing instead to stay in her own place.
She preferred Dr Pepper over coffee for breakfast
While most Americans reach for coffee to start their day, Sullivan had a completely different morning routine. She told reporters that people would try to give her coffee for breakfast, but she’d rather have a Dr Pepper instead. This wasn’t just an occasional treat – it was her daily preference for decades. She treated the soda like other people treat their morning cup of joe.
Sullivan’s breakfast choice shows how she lived life on her own terms. She was a University of Texas graduate who taught high school and continued tutoring until just before her 104th birthday. Her unconventional breakfast beverage didn’t seem to slow her down professionally or personally. The Texas Rangers fan remained active and engaged with her community throughout her long life.
Multiple doctors warned her the soda would kill her
Sullivan’s most famous quote became a rallying cry for people who don’t like following medical advice. She told reporters that every doctor who saw her said the Dr Peppers would kill her, but they died first while she kept living. At least two different physicians specifically warned her about the sugar content and told her to stop drinking the soda immediately or face serious consequences.
One particular doctor was especially direct about the danger. He asked if she was careful about what she ate, and when she mentioned her three-Dr-Pepper habit, he said the sugar was too much and would kill her. Ten years later, that doctor had died and Sullivan had to find a new physician. She continued drinking her three sodas daily and outlived several more doctors who gave her the same warning.
Dr Pepper company celebrated her 104th birthday
When Dr Pepper CEO Larry Young heard about Sullivan’s story, he decided the company needed to do something special for her birthday. They sent her a gift that included not just regular cans of Dr Pepper, but also bottles that looked like the ones she used to buy 60 years earlier. Sullivan was thrilled with the vintage-style bottles and told reporters how nice the gesture was.
The company’s marketing team saw Sullivan as the perfect embodiment of an old advertising campaign. Dr Pepper used to have a slogan that said “Vim, Vigor, Vitality” with an image of a majestic lion next to a Dr Pepper bottle. The corporate communications director said nobody represented those qualities better than Elizabeth Sullivan. They were happy to be part of her special day and wished her many more birthdays.
She never took regular medications or had chronic illnesses
What made Sullivan’s story even more remarkable was her overall health record. At age 104, she had never been admitted to a hospital except to give birth to her children and to have her tonsils removed. She didn’t take any regular medications and never reported having chronic illnesses that typically affect people as they age. Her body seemed to handle the daily sugar intake without the problems doctors predicted.
Sullivan told reporters that her body needed sugar and that medical professionals still couldn’t find anything wrong with her. She maintained this position even as she became more famous for her unusual lifestyle choice. Her exceptional health at such an advanced age made her story even more compelling to people who heard about her three-soda daily routine.
Her CNN interview became an internet sensation
Sullivan’s interview with CNN at age 104 turned her into an internet celebrity almost overnight. She sat down with a journalist while drinking a Dr Pepper and explained her philosophy about the soda. The clip showed her confidently stating that all the doctors who told her the drink would kill her had died while she was still alive and healthy.
The interview quickly became what internet users call a “thug life” meme. People created different versions that showed Sullivan with cartoon sunglasses superimposed on her face while music from Dr. Dre’s song “The Next Episode” played in the background. Her observation about outliving doctors who warned her became widely described as “gangsta” in hip-hop culture. The meme celebrated her rebellious attitude toward medical advice.
She received a Dr Pepper shaped cake for her final birthday
For Sullivan’s 106th birthday, which would be her last, she received another special celebration centered around her favorite beverage. The Dr Pepper Snapple Group sent her a cake shaped like a Dr Pepper bottle along with more of the actual soda. This final birthday party showed how her unusual habit had become such an important part of her identity that people couldn’t imagine celebrating her without including the drink.
Sullivan passed away in November 2017 at her grandson’s home in Las Cruces, surrounded by family. Her obituary mentioned that her favorite things included family, friends, mystery novels, musical theater, and of course, enjoying Dr Peppers. She was remembered as someone who lived life exactly how she wanted, regardless of what others thought was best for her. The Texas Rangers lost their oldest fan, but her story continued to inspire people who heard about her unconventional approach to longevity.
Other people have credited Dr Pepper for long life too
Sullivan wasn’t the only person to claim Dr Pepper helped them live a long life. Eugene Peterson, a retired sergeant major who served in the Philippines and Vietnam after being drafted in 1941, also praised the soda during his 101st birthday celebration. When his daughter was asked about the secret to her father’s longevity, Peterson immediately pointed to his Dr Pepper habit as a contributing factor.
Peterson’s story adds another layer to the mystery of whether Dr Pepper actually helps some people live longer, or if people who live long lives just happen to enjoy the soda. His military service and active lifestyle combined with his Dr Pepper consumption creates an interesting pattern. While two people don’t make a scientific study, their similar experiences make people wonder if there’s something special about the drink or if they both just had good genes and lucky circumstances.
Routine habits might matter more than specific foods
Some researchers think Sullivan’s longevity had less to do with Dr Pepper specifically and more to do with having consistent daily routines. Dr. Angel Iscovich wrote a book called “Art of Routine” that studied multiple centenarians, including Sullivan. His research suggested that sticking to regular habits – even ones considered unhealthy – might be more important than the actual content of those habits.
The theory is that people who live structured lives with consistent routines tend to live longer, regardless of whether those routines include things like daily soda consumption. Other researchers pointed out that most centenarians share certain healthy habits like strong relationships, staying physically active, and eating plenty of plants. Sullivan had many of these positive factors in her life along with her Dr Pepper routine, which makes it hard to know which factor contributed most to her long life.
Elizabeth Sullivan’s story reminds us that sometimes the most unexpected people live the longest lives. Her daily Dr Pepper habit became legendary not because it’s recommended for everyone, but because it shows how individual bodies can respond differently to the same substances. Whether the soda actually helped her live to 106 or she just happened to have great genes while enjoying her favorite drink, her story became an inspiration for people who don’t want to follow every piece of conventional advice.
