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SOFT DRINK
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A soft drink is a drink that does not contain alcohol, as opposed to hard drinks, that do. In general, the term is used only for cold beverages. Hot chocolate, tea, and coffee are not considered soft drinks. The term originally referred exclusively to carbonated drinks, and is still commonly used in this manner.
Fizzy Drinks
Fizzy drinks (carbonated beverages) are produced by injecting carbon dioxide into the drink at a pressure of several atmospheres. Carbon dioxide dissolves readily at normal atmospheric pressure, particularly in cold beverages, but far more so at high pressure and large volumes of gas can be dissolved. When the pressure is released the carbon dioxide comes out of solution forming numerous bubbles and begins releasing the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. After many minutes most of the carbon dioxide has been released and the drink is said to be 'flat'.
The chemical phenomenon whereby carbonated drinks taste fizzy is due to carbonic acid inducing a slight burning sensation, and is only indirectly related to the bubbles- both phenomena are caused by the carbonic acid concentration.
Carbonation can also be produced by partial fermentation in a sealed container. This is the method used in the production of ginger beer and by careful control, and use of appropriate yeasts the alcohol level can be kept very low.
Marketing
Soft drinks are commonly sold in stores in bottles and cans. They can also be dispensed using a soda gun. Sales earn a significant amount of money for the producers and distributors. Most famous name-brand soft drinks are produced and bottled by local or regional independent bottling companies. These companies license the name, and are usually sold the main ingredients, with syrup made by the main manufacturing plants of the trademark holders.
In the past, most cola-flavoured and other soft drinks were sweetened with ordinary sugar (sucrose), but to save on production costs in some markets, HFCS (High-Fructose Corn Syrup) is now commonly used as a sweetener.
Competition in the industry among soft drink producers is widely referred to as the cola wars, a term mainly used to describe the ongoing battle for market supremacy between Coca-Cola and Pepsi.
Diet soft drinks
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for alternatives to sugar-heavy soft drinks. "Regular" soft drinks largely contain sugar or corn syrup, and have been blamed in recent years for contributing to obesity. Sugars, like other carbohydrates, stimulate the production of the hormone insulin, which causes the body to store fat rather than burn it. "Diet" soft drinks are sweetened with chemicals, such as aspartame and saccharin, that are perceived as sweet by most people, yet do not stimulate insulin production or have any food energy or nutritional value. These artificial sweeteners are also controversial, as many of them are subject to claims that they may cause cancer or other illnesses.
Controversy
Nutritional Value
Soft drinks obtain almost 100% of their food energy in the form of refined cane sugar or corn syrup. While the USDA recommended daily allotment (RDA) of added sugars is 10 teaspoons for a 2,000-calorie diet, many soft drinks contain more than this amount.
Unless fortified, it also contains little to no vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, or other essential nutrient. Additionally some brands of soft drinks may contain questionable food additives such as food coloring, artificial flavoring, emulsifiers, and preservatives. Some also argue that caffeine-containing soft drinks are not a valid source of dietary fluids because of the common urban myth that caffeine causes the body to lose water.
Soft drinks may also displace other more nutritional food choices, such as milk and fruit juice, in peoples' diets.
Studies showing a correlation between soft drinks and obesity
A study from Harvard shows that soft drinks may be responsible for the doubling of obesity in children over the last 15 years.
From 1991 and 1995, adolescent boys in the US, on average, increased their intake of soft drinks from 345 mL to 570 mL. Most soft drinks are sweetened with sugar or corn syrup, and not artificial sweeteners. Dr. David Ludwig of the Boston Children's Hospital showed that school children drinking at least eight U.S. fluid ounces (240 mL) or more of regularly sweetened drinks daily will consume 835 calories (3,500 kilojoules) more than those avoiding soft drinks; i.e., children who drink soft drinks loaded with sugar tend to eat much more food than those who avoid soft drinks. Either those taking sugared drinks lack the same restraint on foods, or sugared drinks cause a rise in insulin that makes adolescents more hungry, causing them to eat more. Soft drinks (including diet soft drinks) are also typically consumed with other high-calorie foods such as fast food. Children who drink soft drinks regularly are therefore fatter on average, in addition to being more likely to develop diabetes later in life (see below).
This finding is controversial, because children in much of the Third World also consume large numbers of soft drinks with even more sugar, and do not share the same obesity rates as American children, suggesting that other factors are involved aside from sugar consumption in soft drinks. Suggested factors include physical activity, and the fact that American soft drinks are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup instead of cane sugar. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is used to enhance the sweetness of some soft drink beverages, could also play a role by stimulating appetite.
Soft Drinks linked to diabetes
In 2004, a study of 50,000 nurses over a period of 8 years found that drinking one or more sugar-sweetened soft drinks per day increases one's risk of developing diabetes by 80%, when compared to those who drank less than 1 soft drink per month. This finding was independent of other lifestyle factors [1]. In the same study, a similar observation was made for fruit juice consumption. This finding is controversial.
Availability
Some argue that soft drinks are too widely available, from every restaurant, movie theater, vending machine, and similar locations. Others believe that a small amount of will power on the part of the individual is all that's required to reduce consumption and that one should take personal responsibility for their own purchasing decisions.
Banning
In recent years, debate on whether soft drink vending machines should be allowed in school has been on the rise. Proponents believe that soft drinks are a significant contributor to childhood obesity and tooth decay, and that allowing soft drink sales in schools encourages children to believe they are safe to consume in moderate to large quantities. Proponents note that children are not always mature enough to understand the consequences of their own food choices, and should not be routinely exposed to the temptation of cheap, readily available soft drinks. They also argue that schools have a responsibility to look after the health of the children in their care, and that allowing children easy access to soft drinks violates that responsibility. Opponents believe that obesity is a complex issue and soft drinks are not the only cause. Some people take the middle ground, saying that soft drink machines should be allowed in schools, but that they should not be the only option available. They propose that when soft drink vending machines are made available in school grounds, the schools should be required to provide children with a choice of alternative drinks (such as fruit juice, flavoured water and milk) at a comparable price.
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Solar Cola - a taste for adventure
We are looking for distributors in America, Australia, Canada, Europe, and Japan. The state of the Cola market globally and in the UK is ripe for a fresh quality brand, with excellent potential for growth. According to ResearchandMarkets.com the UK drinks market is worth an estimated £53.5 billion, representing a 7% share of total consumer spending. The global soft drinks market is roughly the same percentage of total consumer spending for developed countries.
Prospective investors in our company should consult their own independent investment advisers, and please note this information is provided for general guidance only. It is not a prospectus, but is provided in response to the number of requests we have received asking for more information
For all Investor and Trade enquiries contact: Nelson Kruschandl
Solar Cola UK or Solar Cola Exports The Old Steam House Herstmonceux, BN27 1RF United Kingdom
+ 44 (0) 1323 831727 +44 (0) 7905 147709
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This website is Copyright © 1999 & 2006 NJK. The bird logo and name Solar Navigator and Solar Cola are trademarks. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged. Max Energy Limited is an educational charity. |
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