Soda consumption has become a prevalent part of the American life style. Soda is available everywhere, and it is pushed as the drink of preference at every fast-food restaurant, theatre, and public school. In 2000, the 15 billion gallons of soda sold in the United States accounts for the equivalent of one 12 once can for every person every single day. According to the Washington Post, "fifty-six percent of 8-year olds down soft drinks daily, and a third of teenage boys drink at least three cans of soda pop per day" (Squires). Another article states "...annual soda consumption was 22.4 gallons per person in 1970; in 1998, it was 56.1 gallons per person" (Kaufman). Sodas are displacing other drinks from the teenage diet. The same article also mentions "... 20 years ago, teens drank almost twice as much milk as soda; today, they consume twice as much soda as milk."
The most prominent side effect of this massive consumption is obesity. Obesity has become an epidemic in this country, affecting even the youth. According to a Harvard study mentioned in the Post, "...12-year-olds who drank soft drinks regularly were more likely to be overweight than those who didn't" (Squires). Another important finding about soft drinks was that "for each additional daily serving ... the risk of obesity increased 1.6 times."
The soft drink industry tried to refute this study, but mainly used nonsensical logical fallacies. The main concern of the Harvard study was that the results were flawed because of the excess minorities used in the study. They said "about two-thirds of the participants were white, compared with 75 percent of the total U.S. population" (Squires). They failed to explain why it was important to have more Caucasians when studying human physiology.
Drinking soda causes bone weakening. "Animal studies demonstrate that phosphorus, a common ingredient in soda, can deplete bones of calcium" (Squires). This has been proven by many studies. "A 1994 study ...found a strong association between cola beverage consumption and bone fractures in 14-year-old girls." These girls are also affected later in life. "Doctors say soda has been pushing milk out of teenage diets and making girls more likely candidates for osteoporosis when they're older" (Kaufman).
The soda industry is using the caffeine addiction property of soda to increase their business. In addition to having negative health effects on students, the caffeine is also negatively affecting their performance in school. The Washington Post mentions that "... great popularity of caffeinated soft drinks is driven not so much by subtle taste effects, as by the mood-altering and physical dependence of caffeine that drives the daily self-administration" (Squires). This makes students unable to concentrate on their studies, in addiction to causing health risks to their body and brain. "The fact is that kids have withdrawal signs and symptoms when the caffeine is stopped is a good indication that something has been profoundly disturbed in the brain."
This is a problem that needs serious consideration, since "...the combination of rising obesity and bone weakening has the potential to synergistically undermine future health." The Cola companies deny and dodge the accusations, and try to use any means at their disposal to promote addiction of their product. "A few schools are even giving away soft drinks to students who buy school lunches." On February 28, 2001, "representatives of the soft drink industry, concerned that public opinion and public policy may turn against them, will stage a three-day fly-in to lobby Congress to maintain soft drinks sales in schools" (Squires). These companies are literally bribing the schools to ignore the health risks and promote their product to kids. "During the last three years of his school's exclusive vending contract with Pepsi, Stofa said, the company has helped me finance school landscaping, purchased jackets for the security staff, sponsored academic and multicultural events, and supplied a scoreboard, too." In addition, Coke "encouraged principals to make sure the vending machines were easily accessible... The district had to sell at least 70,000 cases of Coke products during one of the first three years of the contract... if it did not, the payment from Coke for the following seven years of the contract would be significantly reduced." The executive director of the Center for Science in Public Interest, Michael F. Jacobson, is quoted in the article: "It's time to get soda pop out of schools, just like smoking has been banished" (Kaufman).
Squires, Sally. "Soft Drinks, Hard Facts." The Washington Post February 27, 2001: HE10