Coca-Cola CEO on Soft Drink Tax

" All right time now to get personnel you know you just like -- early may never know who's going to show -- here at the bull and bear bar one of the top. CEO it's in the country John Iraqis as CEO of Coca-Cola enterprises. And his lovely wife Mary from Atlanta here at the a bull and bear bar. Now we have a connection here -- you explain will."

" I sent in line is one of her husband's best friends from Georgetown University we -- and -- ten years now. Exactly he is just the kids."

" He's still it that's my god. He's still ahead yet adamant brat in the in the back of great friends and now I've become a great -- Rebecca as well. Okay Johnson we have to ask you abandon mr. brought -- to -- say mister Nixon -- on the about the you know there's the the Obama administration they're talking about taxing soft drinks to pay for health care for every one that'll affect your business."

" Well we don't think is a particularly good idea because it's really regressive and it absolutely goes against the whole concept of Americanism in the people's gonna hit the worse. Are the middle and a lower income people so. There are a lot of other ways I we totally totally drug -- support health care reform we think it's the right thing for the country. But it's got to be done the right way how would you suggest -- paying for it. Well I think -- a lot of proposals out they're being talked about it it's all about managing the cost it's about making sure that the system is in fact functioning properly. There -- a lot of inefficiencies in the system nobody else spends 18% of their GDP. On health care so we would suggest to complete overhaul of the system not regressive taxes."

" Right at me that's something good now -- with everybody losing their jobs and everybody curbing their spending. Up consumer spending -- it helps us economy are people cutting back on buying soft drinks. "

" Actually we're guardedly optimistic about what's going on in the country obviously there are a lot of challenges out there. But over the last six months or so we are actually seeing some signs. That consumer confidence is coming back and that is amid the end of the day. The difference between winning and losing in the United States is one thing. It's the confidence. That consumers have in the future rightwing -- and there's a bit of -- there is coming."

" You think self -- what we're talking about that earlier trust in the market -- we see some of these Ponzi scammer C and -- Sanford today. Up finally going to jail so little by little yet you -- that consumer confidence coming back. Other people talk about the credit crunch in this country. Are you seeing any and that is it going way is what the bed. The government doing helping in any blame."

" Well I'd I would say small to medium sized businesses in this country still have a huge challenge in getting the kind of credit they need -- We have re finance over the past twelve months some billion and a half dollars for the credit and we did just fine in doing that so I think it's a bit. Different depending on the size of the company and your credit rating but is the credit. Crunch still an issue in the United States. Yeah absolutely and we need to figure out better ways. Letting small and medium size businesses get access our our economies are going to work unless there."

" I know Coca-Cola has ever come I've traveled abroad he's still popular it's here quintessential. American iconic brand Howard sales going overseas."

" Well for us sales -- principally the United States Canada and Western Europe we -- actually very positive on the on the way our business is doing in Western Europe. It's a great brand. We we -- excited about it and it's frankly in spite of the economy in Great Britain for example which is under a huge amount of stress. Our team there's been a great job and our brands Coca-Cola vitamin water glass so. We've launched monster I mean it's a it's a terrific set of brands and our teams that are great job so again. I would say. Guardedly. Guardedly optimistic about the future."

" Well I know the vitamin water launched a bid with a big campaign here in New York City now that it's only ten calories vitamin water since -- you haven't tried it yet I'll give it a -- Brett Lanza group. Mr. mrs. -- thank you very much John Brock the FC EO of Coca-Cola enterprises."