Stars and Stripes Cola

I got this 3L bottle of cola at Deals store for $1.00 [plus bottle deposit and tax] and the cola flavor tastes pretty decent for a budget/generic cola, but the sweeter is what makes this soda not so enjoyable; the sweetener taste thin and unwholesome like a diet soda, but the label says that the sweetener is HFCS. I experienced the same problem with the Stars and Stripes Root Beer and will not buy any more of this soda.