Coca Cola truck tour’s London date cancelled over fears of public health protests
Coca Cola was forced to cancel the final leg of its festive truck tour over the weekend amid fears of public health protests. The iconic red truck was due to round off its UK tour in London, appearing at the O2 on Sunday 15th December, but the final date was called off after it was confirmed that protestors were planning to target the arena.
Coca Cola has been criticised by health experts, organisations and sugar awareness groups, and some local authorities banned the trucks from visiting this Christmas. Coca Cola responded to critics, saying that over 90% of the drinks they handed out free of charge were diet or zero versions, but dentists and oral health experts believe that the brand’s tour sends out a negative message. Even diet drinks are acidic, which can cause considerable damage to the tooth enamel, and the belief is that children should be encouraged to choose healthier alternatives.
Tooth decay is currently the leading cause of hospital admissions among children in the UK, with thousands of extraction procedures carried out every year. As decay is preventable, and the majority of cases are linked to diet, experts and protestors believe that youngsters should not be targeted by brands like Coca Cola.
In November, a letter calling for Coca Cola to hand out sugar-free drinks only was signed by over 80 campaign groups and dental organisations, including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal Society for Public Health and the Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in England.
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