History:
– Founded in 1919 as the American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages
– Renamed to the National Soft Drink Association in 1966
– Changed to the current name in November 2004
– Name change reflected the expanded range of nonalcoholic beverages produced
– Evolution of the organization’s name over the years
Leadership:
– Members include bottling companies and beverage industry firms
– Notable members: Bulldog Americas Corporation, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola bottlers, Pepsi-Americas Inc, Royal Crown Bottling Corporation
– Diverse representation within the association
– Involvement of key industry players
– Collective leadership within the organization
Lobbying:
– Significant increase in lobbying efforts by the American Beverage Association
– Financial support to oppose increased taxes on soft drinks
– Annual lobbying expenditures from 2003 to 2008 ranged from $391,000 to over $690,000
– Lobbying expenses spiked to $8.67 million in the 2010 election cycle
– Utilization of 25 lobbyists across seven firms
Latest news:
– Study in the New England Journal of Medicine advocating for taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages
– Proposal for an excise tax of a penny per ounce on sweetened beverages
– Expected outcomes of reduced calorie consumption and revenue generation for health programs
– Establishment of Americans Against Food Taxes coalition in response to pro-tax efforts
– Opposition to proposed taxes by organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest
See also:
– Maureen Storey, senior vice president for science policy and author of ABAs press releases
– Key figure in the organization
– Responsible for official statements
– Influence on public perception
– Contributions to the association’s communication strategies
References:
– Archived information about the American Beverage Association
– Details on the association’s history and evolution
– Profile of the American Beverage Association on OpenSecrets
– Report calling for taxes on soft drinks
– Various websites and sources for additional information
The American Beverage Association (ABA) is a government lobbying group that represents the beverage industry in the United States. Its members include producers and bottlers of soft drinks, such as The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper, along with other non-alcoholic beverages.
 | |
| ABA | |
| Company type | Trade Association |
| Industry | Non-Alcoholic Beverage Industry |
| Predecessor | American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages; National Soft Drink Association |
| Founded | 1919 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Matthew Dent, Chair |
| Services | Lobbying on behalf of non-alcoholic beverage producers |
| Website | www |