Not only has the honest-to-goodness, scout’s honor release date been announced for the long-awaited (seems like an understatement doesn’t it?) album Chinese Democracy, there’s a free Dr Pepper to go with it.

The company is making good on a promise it made that if the album every really hit store shelves they’d give every American a free Dr Pepper.

“We never thought this day would come,” said Tony Jacobs, vice president of marketing. “But now that it’s here all we can say is: the Dr Pepper’s on us.”

To claim your freebie, visit to DrPepper.com on the album’s release date and register your information to receive a coupon for one free 20-oz. Dr Pepper.

Coupons will be available for 24 hours, starting at 12:01 a.m. ET on November 23 and expire February 28, 2009.

A new GNR album and a free soda. Is this a great time to be alive or what?