To: Coca-Cola Board of Directors and Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO
Coca-Cola: Protect our children and drop Monster Energy
We demand that Coca-Cola drops its deal with Monster Energy.
Coca-Cola is set to become a major investor in Monster Energy in a deal that would greatly expand the distribution of Monster Energy drinks in the U.S. and abroad.
Energy drinks can cause major health problems and Monster Energy has been criticized for marketing to children.
We demand that Coca-Cola protects our children and drops the deal with Monster Energy.
Coca-Cola is set to become a major investor in Monster Energy in a deal that would greatly expand the distribution of Monster Energy drinks in the U.S. and abroad.
Energy drinks can cause major health problems and Monster Energy has been criticized for marketing to children.
We demand that Coca-Cola protects our children and drops the deal with Monster Energy.
Why is this important?
Medical researchers have found that energy drinks can lead to: (2,3,4,5,6)
• Seizures
• Arrhythmia
• Increased blood pressure
• Kidney problems
• Hyperactivity and inattention
• Increased anxiety
• Addiction
As carbonated beverage sales drop for the 10th straight year and energy drink sales increase, Coca-Cola is purchasing a 16.7% stake in Monster Energy and getting two seats on its Board of Directors in order to increase profit (7,8,9). Under this deal, Monster Energy may become as ubiquitous as Coca-Cola. According to a Coca-Cola press release, “The Coca-Cola Company will become Monster’s preferred distribution partner globally and Monster will become The Coca-Cola Company’s exclusive energy play” (10).
Tell Coca-Cola’s CEO and Board of Directors: Place the health of children over profit! Drop Monster Energy!
The American Association of Poison Control Centers has an alert specifically for energy drinks and reports receiving 2,810 calls about exposures to energy drinks in 2014 (11). So far in 2015, 61% of the calls to poison control centers across the U.S. about energy drinks have been in relation to children 18 and younger (12).
Monster Energy has been criticized for marketing to youth through social media, music and sporting event sponsorships, celebrity endorsements, high school athlete recognition, and alcoholic references(13, 14).
In 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation investigated Monster Energy and other energy drink makers for marketing to youth and recommended standards for more responsible marketing practices (15). The recommended standards include to stop marketing to youth under 18 and to stop featuring underage youth in marketing and promotional campaigns (16). Monster Energy refused to comply with these and other recommended standards, according to a 2014 report by U.S. Senators Edward Markey, Richard Durbin, and Richard Blumenthal (17).
The American Medical Association recently came out in support of banning the marketing of energy drinks to minors (18). The American Academy of Pediatrics states that energy drinks “should never be consumed by children or adolescents” (19). The American Academy of Family Physicians adopted a resolution “to advocate for a ban on stimulant drinks for individuals younger than 18” (20).
Tell Coca-Cola’s CEO and Board of Directors: Protect children from predatory marketing! Drop Monster Energy!
This petition is endorsed by the Public Health Advocacy Institute and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.
This petition is sponsored by the UNITE HERE Parents Committee.
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 55,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
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REFERENCES
(1) The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Beverage Corporation Enter into Long-Term Strategic Partnership. The Coca-Cola Company Press Release. August 14, 2014. http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/press-releases/the-coca-cola-company-and-monster-beverage-corporation-enter-into-long-term-strategic-partnership
(2) Babu et al. 2008. Energy Drinks: The New Eye Opener for Adolescents. Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine 9(1):35-42). http://com-emergency.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/files/2013/02/energy-drinks.pdf
(3) Marcie Beth Schneider, MD, FAAP. Statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics. July 31, 2013. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-113shrg88760/html/CHRG-113shrg88760.htm
(4) Schwartz et al. 2015. Energy Drinks and Youth Self-Reported Hyperactivity/Inattention Symptoms. Academic Pediatrics. Published online February 8, 2015. http://neuropl.us/assets/1-s2.0-S1876285914004252-main.pdf
(5) Trapp et al. 2014. Energy drink consumption is associated with anxiety in Australian young adult males. Depression and Anxiety 31(5):420-428. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24019267
(6) Marin Institute 2007. Alcohol, Energy Drinks, and Youth: A Dangerous Mix. http://alcoholjustice.org/images/stories/EnergyDrinkReport.pdf
(7) Kell, John. U.S. soda sales dropped for the 10th straight year in 2014. Fortune. March 26, 2015. http://fortune.com/2015/03/26/soda-sales-drop-2014/
(8) Wong, Venessa. Overcaffeination Concerns Haven’t Dented Energy Drinks. Bloomberg Business. June 6, 2013. http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-06-06/overcaffeination-concerns-havent-dented-energy-drinks
(9) The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Beverage Corporation Enter into Long-Term Strategic Partnership. Press Release. August 14, 2014. http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/press-releases/the-coca-cola-company-and-monster-beverage-corporation-enter-into-long-term-strategic-partnership
(10) The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Beverage Corporation Enter into Long-Term Strategic Partnership. Press Release. August 14, 2014. http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/press-releases/the-coca-cola-company-and-monster-beverage-corporation-enter-into-long-term-strategic-partnership
(11) American Association of Poison Control Centers. Alerts: Energy Drinks. Website. http://www.aapcc.org/alerts/energy-drinks/
(12) American Association of Poison Control Centers. Alerts: Energy Drinks. Website. http://www.aapcc.org/alerts/energy-drinks/
(13) Staff of Senators Markey, Durbin, and Blumenthal 2014. Buzz Kill: A Survey of Popular Energy Drinks Finds Majority of the Market Unwilling to Make Commitments to Protect Adolescents. http://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2014-12-30-Report_BuzzKill_EnergyDrinks_ScreenV.pdf
(14) Staff of Congressman Markey, Senator Durbin, and Senator Blumenthal. What’s all the buzz about? A Survey of Popular Energy Drinks Finds Inconsistent Labeling, Questionable Ingredients and Targeted Marke...
• Seizures
• Arrhythmia
• Increased blood pressure
• Kidney problems
• Hyperactivity and inattention
• Increased anxiety
• Addiction
As carbonated beverage sales drop for the 10th straight year and energy drink sales increase, Coca-Cola is purchasing a 16.7% stake in Monster Energy and getting two seats on its Board of Directors in order to increase profit (7,8,9). Under this deal, Monster Energy may become as ubiquitous as Coca-Cola. According to a Coca-Cola press release, “The Coca-Cola Company will become Monster’s preferred distribution partner globally and Monster will become The Coca-Cola Company’s exclusive energy play” (10).
Tell Coca-Cola’s CEO and Board of Directors: Place the health of children over profit! Drop Monster Energy!
The American Association of Poison Control Centers has an alert specifically for energy drinks and reports receiving 2,810 calls about exposures to energy drinks in 2014 (11). So far in 2015, 61% of the calls to poison control centers across the U.S. about energy drinks have been in relation to children 18 and younger (12).
Monster Energy has been criticized for marketing to youth through social media, music and sporting event sponsorships, celebrity endorsements, high school athlete recognition, and alcoholic references(13, 14).
In 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation investigated Monster Energy and other energy drink makers for marketing to youth and recommended standards for more responsible marketing practices (15). The recommended standards include to stop marketing to youth under 18 and to stop featuring underage youth in marketing and promotional campaigns (16). Monster Energy refused to comply with these and other recommended standards, according to a 2014 report by U.S. Senators Edward Markey, Richard Durbin, and Richard Blumenthal (17).
The American Medical Association recently came out in support of banning the marketing of energy drinks to minors (18). The American Academy of Pediatrics states that energy drinks “should never be consumed by children or adolescents” (19). The American Academy of Family Physicians adopted a resolution “to advocate for a ban on stimulant drinks for individuals younger than 18” (20).
Tell Coca-Cola’s CEO and Board of Directors: Protect children from predatory marketing! Drop Monster Energy!
This petition is endorsed by the Public Health Advocacy Institute and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.
This petition is sponsored by the UNITE HERE Parents Committee.
Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 55,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
--
REFERENCES
(1) The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Beverage Corporation Enter into Long-Term Strategic Partnership. The Coca-Cola Company Press Release. August 14, 2014. http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/press-releases/the-coca-cola-company-and-monster-beverage-corporation-enter-into-long-term-strategic-partnership
(2) Babu et al. 2008. Energy Drinks: The New Eye Opener for Adolescents. Clinical Pediatric Emergency Medicine 9(1):35-42). http://com-emergency.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/files/2013/02/energy-drinks.pdf
(3) Marcie Beth Schneider, MD, FAAP. Statement to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics. July 31, 2013. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-113shrg88760/html/CHRG-113shrg88760.htm
(4) Schwartz et al. 2015. Energy Drinks and Youth Self-Reported Hyperactivity/Inattention Symptoms. Academic Pediatrics. Published online February 8, 2015. http://neuropl.us/assets/1-s2.0-S1876285914004252-main.pdf
(5) Trapp et al. 2014. Energy drink consumption is associated with anxiety in Australian young adult males. Depression and Anxiety 31(5):420-428. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24019267
(6) Marin Institute 2007. Alcohol, Energy Drinks, and Youth: A Dangerous Mix. http://alcoholjustice.org/images/stories/EnergyDrinkReport.pdf
(7) Kell, John. U.S. soda sales dropped for the 10th straight year in 2014. Fortune. March 26, 2015. http://fortune.com/2015/03/26/soda-sales-drop-2014/
(8) Wong, Venessa. Overcaffeination Concerns Haven’t Dented Energy Drinks. Bloomberg Business. June 6, 2013. http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2013-06-06/overcaffeination-concerns-havent-dented-energy-drinks
(9) The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Beverage Corporation Enter into Long-Term Strategic Partnership. Press Release. August 14, 2014. http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/press-releases/the-coca-cola-company-and-monster-beverage-corporation-enter-into-long-term-strategic-partnership
(10) The Coca-Cola Company. The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Beverage Corporation Enter into Long-Term Strategic Partnership. Press Release. August 14, 2014. http://www.coca-colacompany.com/press-center/press-releases/the-coca-cola-company-and-monster-beverage-corporation-enter-into-long-term-strategic-partnership
(11) American Association of Poison Control Centers. Alerts: Energy Drinks. Website. http://www.aapcc.org/alerts/energy-drinks/
(12) American Association of Poison Control Centers. Alerts: Energy Drinks. Website. http://www.aapcc.org/alerts/energy-drinks/
(13) Staff of Senators Markey, Durbin, and Blumenthal 2014. Buzz Kill: A Survey of Popular Energy Drinks Finds Majority of the Market Unwilling to Make Commitments to Protect Adolescents. http://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2014-12-30-Report_BuzzKill_EnergyDrinks_ScreenV.pdf
(14) Staff of Congressman Markey, Senator Durbin, and Senator Blumenthal. What’s all the buzz about? A Survey of Popular Energy Drinks Finds Inconsistent Labeling, Questionable Ingredients and Targeted Marke...