We have an obligation to conduct our business ethically and responsibly and to contribute to the well-being of the people our business touches.
The Coca-Cola
Company's "Advertising and Marketing to Children Policy" is applied to
all marketing mediums where targeted demographic tracking is available:
television, radio, print, the Internet and mobile phones. The Coca-Cola
Company also makes every attempt to avoid directly targeting children
in other areas where parents may not be present to supervise, such as
schools.
As a global company, The Coca-Cola Company also makes every effort to adhere to the local, cultural, political and religious requirements in every market that we serve. We are committed to monitoring this policy to ensure it is responsive to the needs and requests of parents and caregivers, and reflective of the ever changing marketplace. We have advocated with the entire nonalcoholic beverage industry worldwide to follow the same approach and are delighted that a set of Guidelines consistent with our policy has been adopted by the International Council of Beverage Associations.
Throughout Europe, we support the Union of European Beverages Associations' commitments regarding marketing to children and the sale of beverages in school.
In the UK, we support the government initiative to limit drinks available in secondary schools to bottled water, skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, pure fruit juices, yogurt and milk drinks (with les than 5 percent added sugar), or drinks made from a combination of these.
Marketing Research
We have twice given permission for independent researchers to use our advertising in studies to help understand how a person’s motivations and preferences are indicated in physiological changes. We’ve found that the data suggested in these studies is not any different from what we’ve learned from traditional forms of consumer research. As a result, we have not explored this area further.
Contracts & Competition
Our Company believes that competition is healthy, and we encourage it through our marketing. We do not engage in anti-competitive practices.
Our relationships with colleges and universities are very important to us. We aim to build strong relationships with our customers and the communities in which we do business by serving their needs for refreshment in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Our process of determining contracts with schools is based on the needs of the school, students and administrators. This process is maintained through a regular dialogue with our customers to ensure that they receive the right product mix. Each contract is unique and based on many factors such as size, student demographics, campus amenities and services.
Nazi Germany
Like many international companies, we had operations in Germany which began before the Nazis seized control. Our business with Germany ended when the US declared war on Germany.
We reject out of hand the suggestion that as a company Coca-Cola ever sympathised in any way with the abhorrent acts or policies of the Nazi regime in Germany. These inaccurate and lurid allegations have been in circulation for many years.
36 percent of our drinks now contain low or no sugar.
