Their plans to market the brand nationally were complicated by the existence of the Louisiana-based Barq's companies which were owned and operated by Robinson's heirs.

The legal battle went all the way to the United States Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, which ruled in favor of the Robinson heirs.

In 1991, they attached coupons to 3-D glasses distributed at screenings of Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare.

[13] The company spent between approximately $2.5 to $3 million promoting a "Soviet Union Going Out of Business Sale," where customers could exchange proof of purchase items for memorabilia.

[12] In 1994, they utilized publicity surrounding the murder trial of O. J. Simpson to run a sweepstakes where customers could "match the DNA" from a scratchcard to win a trip to Ixtapa and "Get Out of the Country.

Barq's also contains sodium benzoate as a flavor protectant, which under the right conditions, is a precursor to the known carcinogen benzene.

It is also common for Barq's that is sold in the state of Utah to be caffeine-free because many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints avoid caffeinated beverages.