Coca-Cobesity

As one of America’s greatest cultural icons or artifacts, Coca-Cola, or Coke as it is commonly referred to, is something that essentially every American, or nearly every person in the world for that matter, can recognize and relate to. It is hard to imagine that any American has never tasted Coke before as it is present in nearly every restaurant, sporting event, or party and in fact many people drink it on a daily basis. But there are a few things for those avid Coke drinkers to consider before they just start guzzling down bottles and bottles of Coke.

            According to a recent study, the average American drinks up to fifty gallons of soda a year. And since Coke is the most sold cola beverage in the United States, we may assume that much of that is Coke. Americans in these days have been subject to record levels of obesity and that may be linked to drinking cola drinks because by just drinking one 12 ounce can of soda a day, a person can gain up to one pound per month because of its high levels of sugar, so we can assume that at least part of America’s high levels of obesity is contributed to the consumption of cola drinks. If one would like to burn off that can of soda they would have to walk for at least 30 minutes. Other health risks also come from drinking Coke too such as; osteoporosis, tooth decay, or even heart disease. So while Coke tastes great and may be okay to drink conservatively, as in not every day, we should refrain from overdoing it and pay more attention to our health.

            One thing that Coke does in order to get itself out there in the public eye is how it displays itself. Its simple colors of red and white and easy to recognize cursive lettering gives Coke the ability to be recognized almost instantaneously by Americans. Whether it is in bottles or cans, Coke can be recognized from a mile away. And even Santa Claus loves it. When Christmas time comes around and we see Santa Claus in all kinds of propaganda, we can even associate him to this iconic beverage from all the commercials at that time of year that we tend to see. So is it any wonder that Santa could stand to lose a few pounds because he drinks so much Coke? The point being that any American man, woman, or child can recognize its colors, logo, or the things it is associated with. Since it is so easily recognized and has that family appeal, people tend to buy it and consume it because when they see it in the stores or restaurants they have impulses to buy it because those images from commercials and other advertisements are on their minds. Whereas if Coke did not have that image or the ability to be easily recognized, do you think it would be nearly as popular or widely consumed? Probably not. This marketing technique also can cost coke drinkers not only in their health, but also in their pocket. If one person drinks two 12 ounce cans of soda a day, that person may be paying more than two hundred dollars a year.

So, while there are iconic things in our culture, Coca-Cola can be seen as being one of the biggest that we have in today’s society due to its immense popularity and its ability to be easily recognized. But those that are avid Coke-drinkers or any avid drinker to any soda must keep in mind their health as well as their pocket books before they become hooked. Keeping Coke intake to a small amount is important, but there are always occasions to enjoy it, in fact, that is something that is a slogan we are all familiar with: Enjoy Coca-Cola.