India, April 23 -- If your daily hit of fizz has been replaced by an "out of stock" alert, you are not alone. In parts of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, the iconic silver can is making itself scarce, triggering chatter on Reddit, X, and Instagram.

For many young consumers, Diet Coke is more than a drink. It's a habit, a trend (remember fridge cigarettes?), and even a personality marker. The shortage has sparked memes and mild panic online, with users sharing screenshots of empty quick-commerce listings and asking, "How will we survive summer without the fizz?"

The issue isn't the beverage but its packaging. Aluminium prices have surged 14-20% in recent weeks, touching four-year highs of about $3,672 (approx Rs.3.45 lakh) per to...