The Coca-Cola truck has become a modern Christmas tradition, with many people refusing to believe it's 'properly Christmas' until they've seen the ad and heard the 'holidays are coming' song.
In recent years the truck has made its way across the country, handing out free bottles of the soft drink and providing people some clichéd snaps to put on their Instagram page.
Well, that could all change - in Liverpool at least - where the leader of the city's Liberal Democrats has called for the truck to be banned, because of concerns about obesity levels.
Credit: PA
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Richard Kemp has written to bosses at Liverpool One, the shopping centre where the truck is due to appear this year, to ask them to reconsider and listing his reasons for why he thinks it's a bad idea, the Liverpool Echo reports.
In the letter he writes: "I believe that the visit by Coca Cola should not take place.
"You only have to look around you to see that Liverpool is in the grip of an obesity epidemic - 30 percent of our 11 years olds are obese with about five percent being clinically obese.
"Up to 60 percent of our adults are obese and many of them clinically obese - we must take action to deal with this because the consequences are alarming."
He then goes in on the stunt, calling it a 'cynical event', saying: "It is not designed to welcome Christmas but to increase the consumption of a product that is grossly unhealthy.
The truck in Liverpool last year. Credit: PA
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"Ten percent of all hospital beds are occupied by people with type II diabetes. All of which is avoidable if people were to eat and drink properly and take enough exercise."
A spokesperson from Coca-Cola told the Liverpool Echo: "The Coca-Cola Christmas truck tour provides a moment of fun for everyone in the build-up to Christmas and we've had a positive response from many people in Liverpool when we visit each year.
"People will have the opportunity to see the truck up close, have their photograph taken and enjoy a choice of a small 150ml can of Coca-Cola Classic or one of our zero sugar options Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar."
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A spokesperson from Liverpool One told the paper nothing has been confirmed yet. It's believed that the Coca-Cola truck's route will not be announced until next week.
Source: Liverpool Echo
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Coca Cola, Liverpool, Christmas