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Protest Against Coca-Cola Marketing 'Potter' Film
Wednesday, October 17, 2001 10:31 PM EDT
A Washington public interest group is calling for an end to Coca-Cola's use of the Harry Potter character in a new ad campaign.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest and other international organizations claim Coca-Cola is using the image of J.K. Rowling's boy wizard to market its sugary soft drinks to children.
Coca-Cola features imagery from the new movie Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone on packages and in advertising for some of its beverages, including Minute Maid, Coca-Cola and Hi-C. The group argues that over-consumption of some of the beverages contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
"Coke has transformed Harry Potter into a marketing wizard to hook our kids on its junk beverages," said Gary Ruskin, executive director of advertising watchdog Commercial Alert.
Coca-Cola spokeswoman Susan McDermott said Coca-Cola's association with Harry Potter is about promoting the value of reading and the magic of Harry Potter - not promoting products to children.
"Much as parents are involved in reading with their children and helping to make decisions about what they read, parents are also involved in deciding what their kids choose to eat or drink," she said. "Both experiences are about family enjoyment and parental choice."
The saveharry.com campaign encourages people to send an e-mail via the site urging Rowling, author of the Harry Potter stories, to end the deal with Coca-Cola and donate royalties she has already received to a nutrition campaign.
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