Should coca cola drop the "coca" in it's name?

Question

By DAN KEANE, Associated Press Writer
Fri Mar 16, 4:52 AM ET



LA PAZ, Bolivia - Always Coca-Cola? Not if Bolivia's coca growers have their way. The farmers want the word "Coca" dropped by the U.S. soft drink company, arguing that the potent shrub belongs to the cultural heritage of this Andean nation, where the coca leaf infuses everyday life and is sacred to many.

ADVERTISEMENT

A commission of coca industry representatives advising an assembly rewriting Bolivia's constitution passed a resolution Wednesday calling on the Atlanta, Ga.-based company to take "Coca" out of its name and asking the United Nations to decriminalize the leaf.

The resolution demands that "international companies that include in their commercial name the name of coca (example: Coca Cola) refrain from using the name of the sacred leaf in their products."

The commission, which met for three days in Sucre, 255 miles southeast of La Paz, is part of an effort led by President Evo Morales to rehabilitate the image of plant, used in the Andes for millennia but better known internationally as the base ingredient of cocaine.

Coca-Cola released a statement Thursday saying their trademark is "the most valuable and recognized brand in the world" and was protected under Bolivian law.

The statement repeated the company's past denials that Coca-Cola has ever used cocaine as an ingredient — but was silent on whether the natural coca leaf was used to flavor their flagship soda.

"They need to understand our situation," said David Herrera, a state government supervisor for the coca-rich Chapare region. "They exported coca as a raw material for Coca-Cola, and we can't even freely sell it in Bolivia."

The Bolivian government regulates the sale of coca to prevent use by the drug trade.

In its natural state, the green leaf is only a mild stimulant. In Bolivia's white-collar offices, coca tea is served instead of coffee, and the country's farmers, miners and longhaul truckers chew the leaf to get through a long work day.

The government wants the U.N. to decriminalize trade in coca-based products to promote its exports.

Morales, a former coca grower, believes an international market for coca-derived products such as tea, flour, liquor, and even toothpaste would draw some of the country's estimated 65,500 acres of coca away from the drug trade.

But the United States, which funds a Bolivian coca-eradication program, is adamantly opposed to the policy, saying it only encourages more coca production.

Answer 1

Depends on who made Coca a copy written word first... My guess is the Coca-Cola company.

Answer 2

No. As was said, Coca Cola is the largest, most widely known trademark name in the world. Coca Cola has been in existence since 1886, when Bolivia was a 61 year old independent nation. For the past 121 years, Bolivia probably hasn't said crap about removing the name. As the Coca Cola Company nearly matches the country of Bolivia in terms of income, I think Coke should just buy Bolivia

Answer 3

Actually they have just been referring to it as Coke and Diet Coke for quite some time now. Besides that, Diet Coca~Cola is a long name for a product and maybe they thought by shortening up the name to Diet Coke, more people would buy the product instead of having to say the longer tongue-twisting version of the name.

Answer 4

Coca Cola better stand their ground. There is no other cola besides Coca Cola. Just calling it "cola" reminds me of the b&w cans during the 80's that said "beer". Farmers, you suck it up and leave history alone. Coca sacred??? LOL tell that to the DEA

Answer 5

No, the brand name is worth too much to drop & its the distinguishing aspect of the name, as cola is not a trademark

Answer 6

I heard that on the news this morning. Cracked me up. No, Coca-Cola shouldn't drop the name. Tough to the farmers.

Answer 7

Pass me a Coca Cola - that was so long I needed that caffeine and sugar to wake me up.

Answer 8

In Chinese Coca-Cola translates to "Bite the wax tadpole"

Answer 9

Nope. Why should a multi-billion dollar company change its name after using it for decades? If they had problems with the usage, they should have raised the issue about a hundred years ago.

Answer 10

nobody uses the cocoa part anyways they just say cola or coke