Group to protest use of Harry Potter to market Coke products

ATLANTA - A Washington, D.C. public interest group has re-launched a campaign that calls for the end of Coca-Cola&#39;s use of the character Harry Potter in advertisements. <br> <br> The Center for Science in the Public Interest said today that Coca-Cola is ``helping fuel the obesity epidemic&#39;&#39; by marketing to children sugar- and caffeine-laden soft drinks with the image of J.K. Rowling&#39;s boy wizard. <br> <br> The campaign is anticipating the November 15 release of the sequel to the original Harry Potter movie, ``Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Harry Potter and related images such as owls and castles will appear on Coke cans, packaging and game cards as part of a $150 million marketing arrangement with Warner Brothers, according to the public interest group. <br> <br> The organization protested Coca-Cola&#39;s marketing efforts last October when the first Harry Potter movie was released. Coca-Cola officials previously said the company&#39;s association with Harry Potter promotes the value of reading and the magic of the character and not the promotion of products to children.