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| Calls to ban Coca-Cola Christmas truck from Liverpool | Calls to ban Coca-Cola Christmas truck from Liverpool |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Calls have been made to ban the Coca-Cola truck from Liverpool this Christmas amid concerns about obesity levels in the city. | Calls have been made to ban the Coca-Cola truck from Liverpool this Christmas amid concerns about obesity levels in the city. |
| Liverpool's Liberal Democrat leader Richard Kemp said the city is "in the grip of an obesity epidemic". | Liverpool's Liberal Democrat leader Richard Kemp said the city is "in the grip of an obesity epidemic". |
| He believes Coca-Cola's popular festive vehicle promotes a product which is "grossly unhealthy", as first reported in the Liverpool Echo. | |
| A Coca-Cola spokesman said the truck also promotes sugar-free drinks. | A Coca-Cola spokesman said the truck also promotes sugar-free drinks. |
| Mr Kemp has written a letter to managers of the Liverpool One shopping district, setting out his opposition to the "cynical event" | |
| His concerns come four months after a study by Public Health Liverpool naming and shaming what it said were the most sugary breakfast cereals. | His concerns come four months after a study by Public Health Liverpool naming and shaming what it said were the most sugary breakfast cereals. |
| He wrote: "You are probably aware that Liverpool is in the grip of an obesity epidemic for children and adults. 30% of our 11-year-olds are obese. | He wrote: "You are probably aware that Liverpool is in the grip of an obesity epidemic for children and adults. 30% of our 11-year-olds are obese. |
| "The biggest single cause of this is the consumption of fizzy drinks. | "The biggest single cause of this is the consumption of fizzy drinks. |
| "That is why I am appalled that there is a rumour going round that you will welcome the Coca-Cola van to Liverpool. This cynical event has taken place for the past five years and is not designed to welcome Christmas but to increase the consumption of a product that is grossly unhealthy." | "That is why I am appalled that there is a rumour going round that you will welcome the Coca-Cola van to Liverpool. This cynical event has taken place for the past five years and is not designed to welcome Christmas but to increase the consumption of a product that is grossly unhealthy." |
| A spokesman for Coca-Cola Great Britain said it had received a "positive response from many people in Liverpool" during previous visits. | A spokesman for Coca-Cola Great Britain said it had received a "positive response from many people in Liverpool" during previous visits. |
| He added: "People will have the opportunity to see the truck up close, have their photograph taken and enjoy a choice of a small, 150ml can of Coca-Cola Classic or one of our no sugar options, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar." | He added: "People will have the opportunity to see the truck up close, have their photograph taken and enjoy a choice of a small, 150ml can of Coca-Cola Classic or one of our no sugar options, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar." |
| No-one at Liverpool One was available for comment. | No-one at Liverpool One was available for comment. |