CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1.    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Soft drinks like coca cola can be simply defined as carbonated drinks, still and juice drinks, dilutables, fruit juices, bottled waters, sports and energy drinks (British Soft drinks like coca cola Association Annual Report 2018). According to the British Soft drinks like coca cola Association Annual Report (2017), the overall consumption of soft drinks like coca cola in the UK has increased slightly from 2010 to 2015 by 0.2%. In 2015; 13.3 billion liters of soft drinks like coca cola were consumed compared with 13.2 in 2010 with more than half (58%) of the consumption was of no or low calorie types (0–20 kcal per 100 ml). Commercial soft drinks like coca cola first appeared in 1884 when a product called “Moxie” was made by a drugstore owner in Lisbon Falls in the USA (Tahmassebi et al. 2006). Soon afterwards, similar products appeared including Coca-Cola® and Pepsi-Cola®. Over the past century, soft drinks like coca cola have changed dramatically from being a local pharmacy product to worldwide industry that earns $60 billion and produce 1 billion litres per year. These changes have been due to advances in manufacturing technology and marketing innovations (Shenkin et al. 2003). Some soft drinks like coca cola have been suggested to have a harmful effect on the dental and general health of people including children and adolescents (Al-Majed et al. 2002; Sayegh et al. 2002; Harding et al. 2003; Luo et al. 2005; Tahmassebi et al. 2006; Cheng et al. 2009; Vartanian et al. 2011; Malik et al. 2010; Chi and Scott 2019). The high content of sugar and acids, which have cariogenic and acidogenic potential, can contribute to dental caries, tooth erosion, as well as contributing to health effects such as overweight and obesity and may be associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Efforts have been made by manufacturers and government agencies to reduce the potential harmful effects of sugar-containing soft drinks like coca cola on teeth and general health. These include banning the sale of soft drinks like coca cola in schools, restricting soft drinks like coca cola advertising, modifying the composition of soft drinks like coca cola and introducing tax on sugar-containing soft drinks like coca cola. This paper aims to provide information regarding the different types of soft drinks like coca cola and their risk on the dental and general health of children and adolescents and the use of artificial sweeteners in soft drinks like coca cola and a discussion of the cost associated with such drinks.

1.2.    Statement of the general problem

The consumption of coca coal products amongst Nigerians has reached an unprecedented height and this has led to several illnesses as a result of the excess sugar content contained in such drinks. Excess consumption of these coca cola products has resulted in the increases of diabetes and other related illnesses like obesity which has lowered the life expectancy of Nigerians. The rapid increase and deaths associated with these illnesses among Nigerians has been a major problem confronting the Nigeria populace.

1.3.    Aims and Objectives of the study

The major aim of the study is to examine the adverse effects of consumption of coca cola on the health of consumers in Nigeria. Other objectives of the study are;

1.  To study the major components of Coca-Cola products.

2.  To examine the level of consumption of Coca-Cola among Nigerians.

3.  To examine the impact of coca cola consumption on health of consumers in Nigeria.

4.  To examine the relationship between coca cola consumption and the health of consumers.

5.  To recommend ways of moderate consumption of coca cola products among consumers in Nigeria

1.4.    Research Questions

1.  What are the major components of Coca-Cola products?

2.  What is the level of consumption of Coca-Cola among Nigerians?

3.  What are the impacts of coca cola consumption on health of consumers in Nigeria?

4.  What is the relationship between coca cola consumption and the health of consumers?

5.  What are the ways of moderate consumption of coca cola products among consumers in Nigeria?

1.5.    Research Hypotheses

H0: There is no significant effect of consumption of coca cola on the health of consumers

H1: There is a significant effect of consumption of coca cola on the health of consumers

Hypothesis 2

H0: There is no relationship between coca cola consumption and the health of consumers.

H1: There is no relationship between coca cola consumption and the health of consumers.

1.6.    Significance of the study

This study would of immense importance towards halting the rising health implications of coca cola consumption among Nigerian populace. The study would also be beneficial to students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing further studies on the subject matter.

1.7.    Scope and limitations of the study

This study is on the adverse effects of consumption of coca cola on the health of consumers in Nigeria using consumers in federal college of education okene Kogi state.

Limitation of the study

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview)

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.