America’s beverage companies are doing their part to help people lead balanced lifestyles, and New York City is the latest spot where we will deliver.

New York will be one of the first three cities to participate in a highly-focused effort to reduce calories in neighborhoods where the availability and demand for no- and lower-calorie beverages fall below the national average. The other two cities are Los Angeles and Little Rock, Ark.

The American Beverage Association, The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and PepsiCo partnered with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation on Balance Calories, an initiative to help reduce beverage calories consumed by 20 percent per person by 2025 in neighborhoods where there has been less interest in or access to lower-calorie and smaller-portion beverages.

These leading beverage companies understand that much more can be accomplished much faster by putting aside competition and working together – along with community leaders and other key stakeholders. The companies will work within neighborhoods to help interest people in trying low- and no-calorie options and smaller portion sizes. Companies plan to use a range of marketplace activities such as providing incentives for consumers and displaying new calorie awareness messages on coolers, vending machines and fountain equipment.

This initiative is another example of how our industry is delivering for communities.  We are empowering consumers to consider all calories consumed and provide them with more options to lead a balanced lifestyle.

As president and CEO of the American Beverage Association, Susan K. Neely said; “This begins by offering more no- and low-calorie and smaller-portion choices, but also finding innovative ways to encourage consumers to try these products.  We are going to test and learn so we can truly transform the beverage landscape through solutions that work.”

To learn more about how we are supporting and empowering consumers, check out DeliveringChoices.org.