Soda Companies Preying on Philly Kids!

Mayor Jim Kenney has introduced a soda tax of $.03/per ounce. The American Beverage Association is spending $1.5M dollars on local ads against the tax. F**K them.

Sugar is addictive. Studies have shown that cravings induced by sugar are comparable to those induced by cocaine and nicotine. One study had rats choosing sugar over cocaine because its effects are more rewarding or pleasurable.

We are an obese culture. Sugar is the number one culprit. Sugar also contributes to liver disease, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney problems.

For years, the soda industry as been targeting  specific audiences based on race and class, putting those populations at greater risk for obesity and diabetes. But, I didn’t know how devious that targeting has been.

Seven months a year, I coach basketball with a youth association at a Philadelphia Rec Center. For years, I’ve seen kids pounding sodas before, during, and after games. Sodas?! Where’s the water?

There are vending machines in the rec center. I’ve never used them, but I’ve seen them in the corner of the first floor for years. It’s an Aquafina vending machine. So, I know there’s water the for them. Yet, they still run and purchase cans of soda. Wanna know why? Take a look:

THERE’S NO WATER IN AN AQUAFINA MACHINE! Not one drop of water is available to these kids in this Aquafina machine. FIVE ROWS OF GRAPE SODA?! F**K Pepsi and the person who stocks this machine. They’re like drug-dealers preying on vulnerable kids who are thirsty after exerting themselves through playing sports. This is A TOTAL VIOLATION OF THE WORST.

To be fair, there is a Coca-Cola owned machine as well. That machine has Dasani Water as option. Dasani was sold out the day that I took this picture. Also, the Coca-Machine doesn’t allow you to see how much water is in the machine. It could be only a small percentage. Coke branding, not Dasani, is all over the machine.

Pepsi should be ashamed of themselves. This is a disgrace. For that, I’m fine with the soda tax. Water at the rec center vending machine would be far cheaper than the soda option and most likely force the kids to go water.

We aren’t talking about adults here. We are discussing children, often without parents supervising, being manipulated by the soda manufacturers to form a sugar addiction. This should be a crime.

Philadelphia Rec Centers should not even allow soda at vending machines. Where’s Mayor Jim Kenney when ya need him? God knows how many vending machines at rec centers/Boys & Girls Clubs across the city are similar to the one pictured above. Is this an epidemic or sorts? These centers should be safe places for kids away from violence and drugs…sugar included.

If a machine says Aquafina, there should be at least 50% water in there. And, again, in city-owned rec centers get the soda OUT OF THEM ENTIRELY!