Student union bars ban Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola equipment is being removed from all student bars

Coca-Cola products are being removed from student union bars at Sussex University in protest against alleged unethical practices by the company.

The union said it would cost the US firm £180,000 out of its £15m annual sales at UK universities.

Sussex is the first students' union to remove Coca-Cola products but others are thought to be considering a ban.

The company denies that it exploits Colombian workers, pollutes water in India or makes unhealthy products.

Coca-Cola products are being removed from the Brighton university's busiest bar, East Slope, on Thursday.

'Economic pressure'

They were taken out of other bars on Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Students denying Coca-Cola business has a phenomenal capacity to achieve real change," said University of Sussex Students' Union president Dan Glass.

"Sussex Union believes that only strong economic action will put pressure on Coke to make fundamental and necessary reforms."

A unanimous vote in favour of the ban was cast by 560 students at their union's annual meeting last October.

It then had to negotiate the withdrawal of the products with NUS Services, which bulk buys stock for 750 student bars and shops.

The company's products are being replaced by organic brands and Virgin Cola.

But the company has said boycotts of its products are not the way to further any cause, as they primarily hurt local economies.