Fizzy tizzy: Bolivia walks back talk of Coca-Cola ban

Published time: August 03, 2012 11:27
Edited time: August 03, 2012 15:27
Coca-Cola sign in downtown La Paz, Bolivia (Reuters / Claudia Daut)

Bolivian officials played down a recent pledge to ban Coca-Cola, saying the words were taken out of context. Their aim was to encourage locals to switch to a homemade peach soft drink instead of the famous American soda.

­Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca said that December 21, 2012 – the day the Mayan lunar calendar enters a new cycle – “has to be the end of Coca-Cola, the end of selfishness, of division.”

“The planets will line up after 26,000 years. It is the end of capitalism and the beginning of communitarianism,” he said. International media ran his words, claiming the country planned to expel one of the world largest soft drink manufacturers.

But Choquehuanca actually meant that December 21 "ought to be the end of Coca Cola, and the beginning of Mocochinci," a local drink made from dried peaches, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Consuelo Ponce.

US weekly magazine Forbes suggested that the alleged ban on Coca-Cola comes at time when Bolivia is pledging to legalize the consumption of coca leaves, alleged to be one of the main ingredients in the soft drink’s secret formula.

The sale of the native coca leaf is big business in Bolivia, accounting for 2% of the country’s GDP (approximately $270 million annually), and representing 14% of all agricultural sales, Forbes reported.

The UN declared the leaves illegal under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, along with cocaine, opium and morphine. Since 2009, Bolivia has consistently called for change to the ruling. The consumption of coca leaves is a centuries-old tradition in South America, strongly rooted in the beliefs of various indigenous groups.

The Bolivian legislature recently approved a Bill of Complaint filed by President Evo Morales’ administration to withdraw Bolivia from the convention over its prohibitions against the personal use, consumption, possession and cultivation of the coca leaf.

In support of the bill, the Bolivian government cited Article 384 of the 2008 Bolivian Constitution, which obligates preserving the use of the coca leaf as part of Bolivia’s ancestral heritage, and rejects the designation of coca in its natural state as a narcotic.

President Morales defended the traditional practice of chewing coca leaves at a UN meeting on narcotics in March, and urged the body to reconsider its 1961 decision.

Comments (12)

Dimitri (unregistered) 04.08.2012 08:22

Although Afghanistan has always been able to wear out its intruders, this is not an adequate reason for anyone, Russia included, wanting to see NATO always foolishly pushing its way into Afghanistan.  Here are the reasons why:

1. Moments after 9/11, Bush said he knew the saboteurs were all citizens of Saudi Arabia, along with a few additional ones from the United Arab Emirates; but one of them was visiting Afghanistan, presumably with an Afghan visa stamped into his Saudi Arabian passport.  Bush then demanded that this suspect be extradited to the United States at once.

2. The Afghan government then responded that Bush should do the usual Interpol procedure, and then the extradition would take place promptly.  Suddenly, Bush invaded and occupied Afghanistan(!) in an astonishing violation of the United Nations Charter, Chapter One.  Later, Bush completely changed his story and said that he occupied Afghanistan in order to spread democracy.  What was it that Bush was spreading?

3. Much more recently, the suspect in question was said to have been taken out in the Pakistani town of AbbottAndCostelloVil le.  However, the Saudi Arabian passport of the suspect, presumably with a Pakistani visa was never shown to the media.

4. Later, neighbors of this suspect said that for many years, this man was always drinking copious amounts of Coca Cola.

Russia may be cautiously acceding to NATO in Afghanistan, recalling the time in 1979 when a Polish immigrant maliciously urged Jimmy Carter to find a way to draw Russia into Afghanistan; but today there might be better strategies.  For example, what if Pakistan could formulate a kinder and gentler Taliban that would nevertheless stop the poppy flowers of Afghanistan?  This could even spell the eventual end of Camp PoppyFlower (oops) Camp BondSteel in Kosovo province.

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TOMASZ IM A WASHINGTON TROLL (unregistered) 04.08.2012 06:48

I am on this site all over it to spread Vile Propaganda and support anything the US does whether supporting Al Queda,illegal Wars,etc. A real Troll.Tomasz says the Bolivians have nothing better tasting so how does that sound to you boys. Coca Cola yeah just like supporting that other really fast food Maccas and KFC. Stupid

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YES BAN IT or WARN against it (unregistered) 04.08.2012 06:44

It does not do you any good anyway.It is Water Coloring and Sugar mostly and is not good for you so yes it should be Banned in countries or at least have health Warnings like the Tobacco Packets have on them.

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