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SODAS/ADVERTISING
AS A WEAPON
source: www.worldpaper.com/
2002/oct02/water4.html
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In 2000, the two largest soft-drink corporations, Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo…- spent US$ 4.6 billion worldwide on advertising;
- a significant portion of this directly targets children & teens, often connecting soda with kids’ heroes;
- for example, Coca-Cola signed an exclusive US$ 150-million global contract with Warner Brothers, the producer of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, to be the sole marketing partner for the movie;
- in 1997, in the US alone, Coca-Cola spent US$ 277 million to advertise its sodas. Pepsi spent close to US$ 200 million;
- the National Cancer Institute spends less than US$ 1 million a year on its “5 A DAY PROGRAM”, which encourages people to eat more fruits and vegetables.*
Soda is a large source of added sugars and calories and can contribute to obesity and tooth decay… - In Poland, there is a ban on all television and radio marketing to children, which has significantly reduced product sales, including soda;
- In the United States, several school districts are working to ban (or reduce) soda vending machines in public and private schools.
* Center for Science in the Public Interest, 1998.
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