The feud between the health conscious and the health liberal has long been a thorn in Coca-Cola’s side. One recent battlefront: lobbyists advocating for a sugar tax to be added on the sale of non-alcoholic beverages in the U.S. and abroad. John Murphy, the company’s Asia Pacific Group president, told Cheddar that the issue affects his business, and he says doesn’t think the tax will have the desired effect. “Many governments need revenue and they see our industry as being a very easy place to source it,” Murphy said. He points out that Coca-Cola has expanded its portfolio of healthier drinks with zero-calorie and low-calorie beverages, particularly in Japan. Health groups have introduced soda taxes across the U.S. in hopes of reducing the consumption of sugary drinks, which contribute to obesity and other health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36.5 percent of adults in the U.S. are obese and that healthcare costs for the group are higher than for others. Soda companies have fought against a lot of that regulation, though. A study published last year found that over a four-year span, Coca-Cola and rival PepsiCo took issue with 29 health bills aimed at soda consumption. “These companies lobbied against public health intervention in 97 percent of cases, calling into question a sincere commitment to improving the public’s health,” the study concluded. “By accepting funding from these companies, health organizations are inadvertently participating in their marketing plans.” The two drink giants sponsored 95 national obesity-focused health organizations, according to the same report.

Share:
More In Business
Starbucks’ Change Flushes Out a Debate Over Public Restroom Access
Starbucks’ decision to restrict its restrooms to paying customers has flushed out a wider problem: a patchwork of restroom use policies that varies by state and city. Starbucks announced last week a new code of conduct that says people need to make a purchase if they want to hang out or use the restroom. The coffee chain's policy change for bathroom privileges has left Americans confused and divided over who gets to go and when. The American Restroom Association, a public toilet advocacy group, was among the critics. Rules about restroom access in restaurants vary by state, city and county. The National Retail Federation says private businesses have a right to limit restroom use.
Trump Highlights Partnership Investing $500 Billion in AI
President Donald Trump is talking up a joint venture investing up to $500 billion for infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence by a new partnership formed by OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank. The new entity, Stargate, will start building out data centers and the electricity generation needed for the further development of the fast-evolving AI in Texas, according to the White House. The initial investment is expected to be $100 billion and could reach five times that sum. While Trump has seized on similar announcements to show that his presidency is boosting the economy, there were already expectations of a massive buildout of data centers and electricity plants needed for the development of AI.
Load More