American Beverage Association
Encyclopedia
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its members include producers and bottlers of soft drink
Soft drink
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage that typically contains water , a sweetener, and a flavoring agent...
s, bottled water
Bottled water
Bottled water is drinking water packaged in plastic or glass water bottles. Bottled water may be carbonated or not...
, and other non-alcoholic beverages.
The organization was founded in 1919, and originally named the American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages. In 1966, it renamed itself the National Soft Drink Association. Then in November 2004, it changed to its current name, "to better reflect the expanded range of nonalcoholic beverages the industry produces."
Leadership
The association’s leaders include: Chair Larry Young, president and CEO of Dr Pepper Snapple Group; Vice Chair Hugh Johnson, president of Pepsi-Cola North America; and President Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Association.Its members are bottling companies and other beverage industry firms, including
Bulldog Americas Corporation, several Coca Cola and Pepsi-Cola bottlers, Pepsi-Americas Inc, and Royal Crown Bottling Corporation.
Lobbying
The American Beverage Association’s lobbyingLobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
efforts have recently skyrocketed, largely to finance the industry’s opposition to legislators’ considering increased taxes on soft drinks given their impact on Americans' health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
when consumed in excess. The Association annual spent about $391,000 to more than $690,000 annually on lobbying from 2003 to 2008. In the 2010 election cycle, its lobbying grew more than 1000 percent to $8.67 million. These funds are helping to pay for 25 lobbyists at seven different lobbying firms.
Latest News
In September 2009, a New England Journal of MedicineNew England Journal of Medicine
The New England Journal of Medicine is an English-language peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Massachusetts Medical Society. It describes itself as the oldest continuously published medical journal in the world.-History:...
study called for taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages saying that these actions would cut rates of diet-related diseases and health care costs. Written by experts in nutrition, public health and economics, the study called for an excise tax of a penny per ounce on soft drinks and other beverages that have added sweeteners such as sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup or fruit-juice concentrates. The expectation is that such a tax could reduce calorie consumption from sweetened beverages by 10% and create revenue that governments could use to pay for health programs. A report on the New England Journal of Medicine study can be read here
To counter these pro-tax efforts, the American Beverage Association and other beverage industry companies have established an "Americans Against Food Taxes" coalition and website. Their efforts include national advertising and other actions positioning the proposed taxes as "taxing hard-working families." This group's actions have been opposed by pro-tax organizations including the Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center for Science in the Public Interest is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit watchdog and consumer advocacy group focusing on nutritional education and awareness.-History and funding:...
.
To date, 33 states have taxes on soft drinks but they are "too low to affect consumption and the revenues are not earmarked for health programs," according to the New England Journal of Medicine study.
External links
- Official site
- "Beverage group: Pull soda from primary schools", USAToday, August 17, 2005
- "After soda ban nutritionists say more can be done", Boston Globe, May 4, 2006
- "Critics Say Soda Policy for Schools Lacks Teeth New York Times, August 22, 2005
- Center for Responsive Politics, ABA profile
- Sourcewatch, ABA profile
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