The phrase “drinking the Kool-Aid” in the current sense precedes the Jim Jones massacre.
It began with a book called “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” (1968).
It began with a book called “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” (1968).
When we say “drinking the Kool Aid” we mean adopting a dumb way of thinking. Not killing yourself, or even harming yourself. Just being stupid.
We wouldn’t say “they drank the kool aid” if someone committed suicide.
More important for present discussion, “The Kool Aid Acid Test” referred to actual Kool Aid, not a generic equivalent.
The Kool Aid marketing team embraced and promoted its countercultural image. Many brands did.
But this left the brand vulnerable when the counterculture became associated with extremism.
Recent parallels to this exist.