I remember that Mythbusters. Coke was best for cleaning chrome. It doesn't rot your gut. I recall a coin test, a piece of meat, a tooth, and engine degreaser test but that's about it. Amazing how the power of suggestion is more powerful than the facts - it's the keystone for the media.
Beer is awful for bloating the tummy out on men. Perhaps reduce the nights spent out if drinking is social (one night a week - too blooming expensive anyway). If at home, every second drink is a water.
My DH is a driver, he's switched to Zero from Coke (which amazed me) and stopped the coffee scrolls and lost about 12kgs. He's put back on about 2kgs just recently but he's got a handle on it. We hardly ever drink these days though, it's a luxury.
SW: Aug08 - 103.8kgs
CW: 95.8kgs (lost 8kgs)
GW: 79kgs by Mar09