America’s beverage companies have a history of working with local and national partners to build stronger communities. Almost two years ago, ABA along with America’s beverage companies launched our Balance Calories Community Initiative in Eastern Los Angeles and Little Rock.

The Community Initiative is a targeted component of the national agreement reached in 2014 by the Alliance, The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, PepsiCo and the American Beverage Association to cut beverage calories in the American diet. Communities with high obesity rates have been specifically selected to participate in this initiative in an effort to gain new insights into the marketing and distribution of smaller portion and low- and no-calorie options in areas where the obesity challenge is the greatest.

Now, our Community Initiative has expanded to communities within New York, Mississippi Delta, Montgomery and Lowndes Counties in Alabama. The effort will eventually include 8-10 communities nationwide.

Find out more about Balance Calories, and the rest of the work our industry is doing, at BalanceUS.org.