Students to vote for a Coke boycott at unions

STUDENTS are set to ban Coca-Cola from shops and bars at Edinburgh University over alleged human rights abuses at an overseas factory.

The Edinburgh University Students’ Association is next month expected to back a proposed boycott of the giant drinks firm.

The move would mean the company would lose its 120,000-a-year contract with EUSA and all advertising rights in buildings owned by the student union.

Eleven other universities worldwide - including four in England - have already introduced similar boycotts.

A global campaign was launched amid allegations that Colombian workers who attempted to unionise one of the firm’s factories were tortured, and another activist was murdered outside the plant’s gates.

Coca-Cola officials today branded claims that the company was connected to the crimes as "outrageous".

But Patrick Hannon, who established Edinburgh University’s Boycott Coca-Cola Society, described the company’s human rights record as "very worrying".

He also criticised Coca-Cola’s use of public water resources in India, which are allegedly taken at the expense of local people.

The proposed boycott follows a similar ban on Nestl products introduced by Edinburgh students in 1997, which remains in place. It is alleged the Swiss firm is breaking international codes on the marketing of breast milk substitutes in the Third World. Nestl vehemently denies the claims.

The motion calling for the Coca-Cola ban will require 300 supporting votes at a meeting on March 9 to become student union policy.

Student Adam Ramsay, a committee member of the Boycott Coca-Cola Society, said: "We hope EUSA will work with other universities around the world to use our huge purchasing power to put pressure on Coca-Cola to give basic morality the same priority as it gives profit ."

David Smith, EUSA’s vice-president of services, said Coca-Cola currently has an exclusive contract with the student union, which ensures bars and shops can sell only the company’s Fanta and Lilt brands and no alternatives.

The 120,000 deal, which ends in July, also allows Coca-Cola to have branded fridges in EUSA’s premises.

A ban would not affect university-owned shops and restaurants.

Lauren Branston, head of strategic communications for Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: "We are listening to people’s concerns and we are aware of the motion at Edinburgh University. Whilst it is important that people have the opportunity to discuss these sorts of issues, these specific allegations aren’t true. The Colombian trade union, Sinaltrainbec, has even gone on record as such.

"For our own part we are really willing to talk to university unions in Scotland, who want to talk to us about the issue."