FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan: bkhan@culinaryunion226.org ▪ (702) 387-7088
Culinary Union Launches Petition Calling on Coca-Cola to Drop Monster Energy
Las Vegas, NV – Concerned about the public health implications of a deal between Monster Energy and Coca-Cola, the UNITE HERE Parents Committee launched a petition demanding that Coca-Cola drops its partnership with Monster Energy.
The petition can be found at www.NoCokeMonster.org. It is endorsed by the Public Health Advocacy Institute and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.
“We want the public to know what this deal between Coca-Cola and Monster Energy means for our children,” commented Linda Gamberg, a UNITE HERE Parents Committee member from Atlanta. “Energy drinks should not be sold in even more places, especially to young people and children.”
Under the deal, Coca-Cola will spend $2.15 billion for a 16.7% stake in Monster and two seats on its Board of Directors. “The Coca-Cola Company will become Monster’s preferred distribution partner globally and Monster will become The Coca-Cola Company’s exclusive energy play,” according to Coca-Cola.
“No one is talking about the potential effects of this deal on children,” remarked Tiffany Santos, a Las Vegas member of the UNITE HERE Parents Committee. “Research has shown that energy drinks can cause major health problems, especially for young people.”
This deal comes at a time when traditional soft drink sales in the U.S. are declining for the tenth straight year due to heightened awareness about the health problems of soda consumption. Meanwhile, sales of energy drinks have increased despite reported health risks.
“Coca-Cola should not invest in Monster Energy to mitigate its slumping soda sales,” advises Mark Gottlieb, the Executive Director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute. “Monster Energy aggressively markets ultra-caffeinated sugar-sweetened beverages to a young and vulnerable population and this deal would only add to the negative public health impact of Coca-Cola’s product mix.”
Monster Energy has been criticized for marketing to children. Monster also recently became the official energy drink sponsor of the UFC – a mixed martial arts promotion that openly markets to children.
“We are worried that Monster will become as widespread as Coca-Cola,” shared Austin Lynch, a UNITE HERE Parents Committee member from Los Angeles. “Coca-Cola should not help Monster sell even more energy drinks to our country’s youth and children.”
The UNITE HERE Parents Committee is a national group of parents who join together to tackle issues that matter for workers and their families.
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.
www.CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226
IMAGE: 
###