How Income Divides Soda Drinkers

Did you know that how much money you make could predict what kind of soda coupons you’re most likely to use? It sounds pretty crazy, but according to new research by the New York City Health Department, income divides soda drinkers.

            The Health Department collected date on soda consumption habits in the different neighborhoods of the city and found that residents of Chelsea and Greenwich Village – two trendy, fashion-conscious neighborhoods –are the least likely to sip on sugary soft drinks. Only 11.2 percent of people in those areas reported drinking at least one soda a day, while the Upper East Side and Upper West Side were a distant second with 18.4 percent of people consume at least one soda a day.

            The really shocking finding is that the poorest districts of the city were the areas where soda consumption was highest. In the Flatbush and East Flatbush neighborhoods of Brooklyn, 45.7 percent of adults reported that they consumed a soft drink daily. The South Bronx wasn’t far behind with 45.5 percent.

            "That number is shockingly high to me -- it's disturbing," said City Councilman Jumaane Williams said of the Brooklyn neighborhoods he represents. NYC has famously pushed to reduce soda consumption with aggressive advertising campaigns and an attempted ban on the use of food stamps to buy sugary drinks.

             "If you overlay a map of sugary-drink consumption and obesity, they coincide an awful lot," said  NYC City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley, who was disappointed that the no-food-stamps-for-soda initiative failed. Farley believes that, if the city’s 1.7 million food stamp residents could no longer use soda coupons, stores would shift their stock to accommodate consumers and the whole city would benefit from healthier options.

Write A Song for Taio Cruz!

Coke has a lot of faith in their fans. The producers of American Idol have a lot of faith in Coke drinkers, too. But the person who trusts Coca-Cola lovers the most may be multiplatinum recording artist Taio Cruz. So how have these people shown that they think soda coupon-users are up for an exceptional challenge? By establishing the “Perfect Harmony” promotion, that’s how.

Coke is letting their fans, and the fans of hit tv program American Idol, help write a new song that will be performed live during the show’s season finale on May 25 at 8/7c on the Fox network. It’s rare that those of us watching Idol from the comfort of our living rooms have the chance to collaborate with someone like Taio Cruz, so you know I’ve been voting like mad ☺
To participate, log on to www.AmericanIdol.com and listen to the opening segment of a song written by Taio. You take it from there! Taio is writing the beginning of each verse, but we the fans have to finish them.
"AMERICAN IDOL auditions are proof that many of our fans have a passion and desire to sing professionally," said Ryan Seacrest, host of AMERICAN IDOL. "What we don't get to explore on camera are the many talented songwriters that exist as well. Coca-Cola has created a very exciting and innovative program that, for the first time, gives fans the opportunity to work with a top artist to create a new song that will be performed live in front of millions of people." I generally think Ryan is pretty silly, but this time, he’s right.

Every week from now to May 13, anyone ages 18 and up can submit their lyrics for consideration on the Perfect Harmony site. After submissions are received, Coke will pick their three favorites and idol fans 13 and up will vote for the lyrics that will end up in the actual song.
"Songwriting can be an individual journey or a cooperative effort, and I've done it both ways," said Taio Cruz. "But creating a new song, with the input of music fans and in partnership with Coca-Cola and AMERICAN IDOL? Now that takes the experience to a completely new place and I'm ready to get it started."
So really, you don’t have to even drink Coke to get in on this collaboration – but I do my best thinking with a cold beverage, so if I take advantage of the soda coupons I’ve found I’m more likely to write some amazing lyrics. I can’t wait to hear the song May 25!!!