It's been awhile since I checked in with the CSR team at Coca Cola and Coca Cola Enterprises. Imagine my surprise, while perusing the 2010 CSR report of the latter organisation, at finding the following. I'm going to go ahead and call it brazen, especially considering it comes under a category of the report with the seemingly candid title 'Understanding Our Product Challenges':
"First, we must combat taxation threats. In 2009, the beverage industry faced significant taxation threats from legislators who believe that soft drinks are responsible for obesity. This challenge gave us the opportunity to respond and demonstrate that we are not part of the problem, but rather a key part of the solution. We firmly believe that when consumed responsibly our products do not contribute to this health issue. In 2009, we continued to improve the work we do to encourage healthy living by partnering with key policymakers and programs engaged in this debate."
Since when has any major company--headquartered in the USA of all places--faced 'taxation threats'? Bold language indeed. You know what else is bold? The reality that the American Beverage Association spent a record $8.67 million--an increase of 1000% over previous years--to lobby Congress in 2010 over a potential soda tax. And that's not unfair, right? Right.
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