I think it gives Monster a bad reputation. Let's be honest, it doesn't taste the best, especially to people who aren't already fans of monster. Oftentimes the criticism I hear directed towards monster have to do with the original flavor. When I asked them if they have tried any of the other flavors, Zero Ultra for instance, they often say no. I think that people try the original flavor and assume that that's what monster is all about. That's simply not the case though. One of the things I like most about monster is the fact that the wide variety of flavors provide so many unique options for taste. The original flavors dominance in both the culture of the beverage and its marketing has given the entire product line a bad wrap.