Citizens’ Campaign for Commercial-Free Schools

COCA-COLA: THE ISSUES

By Brita Butler-Wall, Sept. 15, 2002

Background

The Seattle Public Schools is now at the end of a 5-year, district-wide, exclusive "Pouring Rights’ contract with the Coca-Cola Corporation. This contract entails the promotion and sales of Coca-Cola products in all middle and high schools (and at district-sponsored events) in exchange for cash payments, commissions, promotional items, etc.

The School Board’s decision to sign this contract five years ago was highly controversial, and many citizens testified about their concerns for children’s health (Seattle Times, Aug. 6, 1998; Seattle Post-Intelligencer July 31,1998).

This year, the Board is bypassing parents and public by delegating the decision to renew the contract to one central administrator, Steve Nielsen, Director of Facilities. Nielsen is also responsible for the District’s food services and drinking fountains. There have been no public hearings nor have parents and public had any opportunity to give input to Mr. Nielsen.

CCCS has learned that Nielsen is already in the midst of negotiating with Coca-Cola corporation to renew the exclusive contract, but may be asking that Coke only stock the machines with Coca-Cola brand bottled tapwater and juice (rather than carbonated and/or caffeinated beverages and sugary drinks).

 

Position and Recommendations

While CCCS applauds the attempt to provide healthier vending machine fare, we adamantly oppose the District’s implied endorsement of the Coca-Cola Corporation through the signing of any exclusive or long-term contract with that company.

The District is right to ban sodas and sugary drinks from our schools. At the same time, administrators must work to improve all students’ access to free, clean, fresh drinking water throughout the school day. Privatizing water raises issues of equity – children from low-income families deserve access to water just as much as other children.

We also encourage increased access to a variety of healthful drinks through the school food service program, for example, local, organic 100% fruit and vegetable juice, soy milk, as well as low-fat and non-fat unsweetened milk.

Nutrition is a big issue with the Coke contract, but it is hardly the only issue. A brief review of the history of this corporation raise serious questions about associating our schools with Coca-Cola at all. The Coca-Cola corporation has been heavily criticized in almost any area one can think of – the environment, human rights, labor rights, racial discrimination, and free speech, along with its aggressive marketing of questionable products to schoolchildren.

The District has had five years to show us the benefits of promoting Coca-Cola and its products to our children and they have failed to do so. It’s time to get rid of the Coke machines once and for all.