San Francisco State University Students Stand Up to Big Soda

Congratulations to the students of San Francisco State University, who successfully advocated for their university to halt the sale of “pouring rights” to a soda company.

Highlights:

• “Last spring, the university quietly released a request to sell “pouring rights,” which would have allowed a beverage company to pay to cover the campus in advertising and sell a majority of the drinks. But students became incensed when they learned of the deal, saying the plan was done without their knowledge or input.”

• “Students were concerned that school officials weren’t prioritizing their health, said David Melville, a senior studying business.”

• “Pouring rights are common at universities, and Pepsi and Coca-Cola were both vying for the eight-year contract. The request for proposals had set a minimum payment of $2 million up front, as well as an annual contribution ranging from $125,000 to $425,000, depending on the benefits the company wanted. The winning corporation would have had a monopoly on all soft drinks in vending machines, residential dining halls and athletic events. It would also get 80 percent of retail shelf space for beverages at campus stores, display space for ads in the university’s athletic venues, its logos on posters, programs and season-ticket brochures and the ability to sell branded merchandise. The company would have also received free basketball tickets, among other perks.”

• “Instead, school officials will look at installing more water stations for students to fill up their bottles for free, much like the fountains available at San Francisco International Airport.”