You’re standing in a gas station in the middle of nowhere. It’s hot. You’re thirsty. You walk to the back cooler, and there it is: the checkered pattern, the turquoise can, and that big, bold 99¢ stamped right on the aluminum. It feels like a glitch in the matrix. How is it possible that a 22-ounce can of tea costs the same today as it did when Jurassic Park was in theaters?
Honestly, the question of how much is an Arizona drink is more complicated than just looking at the price tag. While the company has fought a legendary battle to keep that price at 99 cents for over thirty years, the world in 2026 is making that harder than ever.
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Between aluminum tariffs and the sheer weight of inflation, that iconic price point is under heavy fire.
The 99-Cent Mystery Explained
If you’ve ever wondered how much is an Arizona drink at your local bodega versus a big-box retailer, you’ve probably noticed some weird inconsistencies. Don Vultaggio, the guy who started the company in Brooklyn back in 1992, has basically made it his life’s mission to keep the tea affordable. He’s famous for saying he "tightens his belt" so you don’t have to.
But here is the catch.
Arizona Beverages doesn’t actually own the stores that sell their tea. They suggest a retail price—the MSRP—and they even print it on the can to keep retailers honest. Some shop owners still ignore it. They’ll slap a sticker right over the 99-cent logo and charge you $1.50 or $2.00. It’s annoying, but it happens.
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If you see a can with no price printed on it at all, that’s usually a specific batch made for retailers who insisted on having the freedom to charge more. It’s sort of a "don't ask, don't tell" situation between the brand and the vendors.
Why the 99-Cent Can is Dying (or Is It?)
We’ve heard the rumors for years. "Arizona is raising prices!" usually turns out to be a viral hoax or a photo from a Canadian grocery store where the exchange rate makes it $1.29. But in late 2025 and heading into 2026, the pressure became very real.
The biggest culprit? Aluminum.
Recent 50% tariffs on aluminum imports, especially from Canada, hit Arizona where it hurts. The company uses over 100 million pounds of aluminum every single year. When the cost of the "container" goes up by 40% or 50%, the math stops working. Vultaggio himself told The New York Times that he hates the idea of a price hike, but at some point, the consumer might have to foot the bill.
The Strategy to Stay Cheap
To avoid charging you more, the company has had to get incredibly creative. They don't do Super Bowl ads. They don't hire celebrity spokespeople. They basically spend $0 on traditional marketing.
- Thinning the Cans: They’ve reduced the amount of aluminum in the cans by about 40% over the decades.
- Faster Tech: Their machines now zip along at twice the speed they used to, pumping out thousands of cans a minute.
- Night Shipping: They often run their trucks at night to avoid traffic, which saves on fuel and time.
Even with those tweaks, the 2026 landscape is tough. If Arizona had tracked with inflation since 1992, that can should technically cost about $2.30 today. The fact that it’s still under a dollar is a miracle of logistics.
Different Prices for Different Drinks
Not every Arizona drink is 99 cents. This is a common point of confusion. The "99-cent" rule mostly applies to the 22oz tallboy cans of Green Tea, Arnold Palmer, and Iced Tea with Lemon.
If you’re looking at other formats, the price shifts:
- Plastic Bottles (20oz): These used to be around $1.25, but the company actually pushed to lower them to $1 recently to encourage people to move away from the expensive aluminum cans.
- Gallons: Usually found in the grocery aisle for anywhere between $3.49 and $4.99.
- Glass Bottles: These are the "premium" vibe and usually cost more because glass is heavy and expensive to ship.
- Energy Drinks: The RX Energy or fruit juice cocktails in smaller cans often hover around the $1.50 to $2.00 mark.
What to Do When the Store Overcharges
If you’re at a gas station and they try to charge you $2 for a can that literally has "99¢" printed on it, you have a few options.
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First, you can just point to the can. Sometimes the clerk will give it to you for the printed price if you call it out. If they won't budge, the company actually encourages fans to report these retailers. They’ve run social media campaigns like #99centsequals99cents to shame price-gouging.
Honestly, the easiest way to ensure you're paying the right price is to shop at high-volume places like Walgreens, CVS, or large grocery chains. They almost always stick to the 99-cent deal because they buy in such massive quantities.
Actionable Steps for the Thirsty Shopper
Don't let a "convenience fee" ruin your drink. If you want to keep your Arizona habit cheap in 2026, keep these things in mind:
- Look for the Printed Price: If the can doesn't have the 99¢ logo printed directly on the aluminum, the store is legally allowed to charge whatever they want. Only buy the pre-marked cans if you want to hold them to the deal.
- Pivot to Plastic: If aluminum prices keep climbing, look for the 20oz plastic bottles. Arizona has been aggressively pricing these at $1.00 to offset the cost of metal.
- Buy in Bulk: Most grocery stores sell 12-packs of the tallboys. You can often find these for $10 or $11, which brings the price per can down even lower than the individual 99-cent retail price.
- Check the Label: Be careful with the "Fruit Juice Cocktails" or "Energy" versions. They look like the tea cans but often don't fall under the 99-cent price guarantee.
The 99-cent Arizona can is a symbol of a different era. Whether it survives the next few years of economic turbulence is anyone's guess, but for now, it remains the best deal in the entire beverage aisle.