RUMORS & MISINFORMATION
The Coca‑Cola Company has learned of several text messages, emails and letters being sent to people that falsely claim the recipient has either won a sweepstake or a cash prize from our Company.
The text messages direct the recipients to a website that appears to be, but is not, an official site of The Coca‑Cola Company.
Subject lines for the emails have ranged from "You Have Won $1 million In The Coca‑Cola™ 128th Anniversary Promo" to "The Coca‑Cola Award Notification" to "The Coca‑Cola Promo Winning Notification" to "The Coca‑Cola Worldwide Christmas Promo," "Notification for Coca‑Cola Foundation Cash Aid," or other similar titles.
Some versions of the text/email hoax indicate a joint promotion with the British American Tobacco Company, an annual mid-year Coca‑Cola promotional draw (which includes the name of former Coca‑Cola executive vice president, Carl Ware), or a car giveaway in Hong Kong.
The messages also include formal language that makes them look "official," and are sometimes designed to look legitimate by including images or photographs, a "secret pin code" or reference/ticket number and contact information for a Coca‑Cola representative.
No, Coca‑Cola does not contain cocaine or other harmful substances.
No, Coca‑Cola will not dissolve teeth overnight. It is true that foods or drinks that contain sugar and are acidic, including soft drinks, can contribute to tooth decay and erosion, especially if you consume them frequently. Experts including the World Health Organization and the American Dental Association agree that the proper use of fluoride, along with good oral hygiene that includes regular dental check-ups, is the primary behavior needed to reduce the risk of tooth decay or erosion.
No. Coca‑Cola does not fund military operations in any country.
No, Coca‑Cola is a publicly traded company; shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Coca‑Cola did not create the legend of Santa Claus. But Coca‑Cola advertising did play a big role in shaping the jolly character we know today.
Before 1931, there were many different depictions of Santa Claus around the world, including a tall gaunt man and an elf —there was even a scary Claus. But in 1931, Coca‑Cola commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to paint Santa for Christmas advertisements. Those paintings established Santa as a warm, happy character with human features, including rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and laughter lines.
Sundblom drew inspiration from an 1822 poem by Clement Clark Moore called “A Visit from St. Nicholas” —commonly known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Learn more about Sundblom and his depictions of Santa.