Chiapas: The world’s top consumers of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is famous worldwide but there is no place to drink it like Chiapas, Mexico. In this southern Mexican state, people consume a staggering average of 821.2 liters of Coca-Cola per person per year – about 32 times the global average.
According to Oddity Central, people in Chiapas drink about 2.2 liters of Coca-Cola every day, even exceeding the amount of water consumed. The drink is ubiquitous in the state, sold and advertised almost everywhere at the same price as water. For many locals, Coca-Cola is more than just a beverage; it’s a daily necessity, often replacing water as the primary source of hydration.
Coca-Cola has been a fixture in Chiapas for more than 50 years, becoming deeply intertwined with local culture and even religious practices. This enduring presence has led to a scenario where life without Coca-Cola seems unimaginable to many citizens. In Mexico, the average annual Coca-Cola consumption is 160 liters/person, significantly higher than in the US (100 liters/person) and much higher than the global average of 25 liters/person.
The popularity of Coca-Cola in Chiapas can be traced back to the 1960s, when local authorities began relaxing restrictions on soft drink distribution. Religious leaders began replacing traditional healing drinks used in sacred ceremonies with sugary drinks. This change elevated Coca-Cola into a symbol of spiritual power and miraculous healing.
The situation became even more tense when Coca-Cola established a bottling plant near San Cristóbal de las Casas. Factory operations not only made drinks cheaper but also increased marketing efforts, including local model advertisements and slogans in native languages. The plant’s contract to use 1.14 million liters of water daily has exacerbated the problem of water scarcity, leaving many locals with access to clean water only a few times a week.
Dr. Marcos Arana, a Chiapas physician, told The Guardian that Coca-Cola addiction is severe in the state and that consumption begins at a very young age. Data show that 15% of Indigenous children 1 to 2 years old and 3% of infants under 6 months old regularly drink soda.
Sadly, this obsession with soda has led to a “soda epidemic” in Chiapas with dire consequences. Diabetes causes about 3,000 deaths annually, making it the second leading cause of death in the state, and excessive sugar consumption is leading to dental problems in both children and adults.
Despite these serious health concerns, Coca-Cola remains ingrained in the daily lives of Chiapas residents. Some diabetics continue to drink this drink and cannot imagine life without it. Jaime Page Pliego, author of the Cimsur study, notes the tragic irony: “Even people with diabetes admit they continue to take it. They cannot understand life without it.” it. This is truly a tragedy.”
