Benzene in soft drinks been filed by a group of parents in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The two companies, Zone Brands Inc., maker of "BellyWashers" products, and TalkingRain Beverage Co., denied that their products were harmful, but agreed to change the ingredients in their drinks. Coca-Cola announced that it would be phasing out sodium benzoate from many of its drinks, but not Fanta and Sprite. As of August 2012, Coca Cola Zero and Barq's root beer still contains benzoate (added as potassium salt and sodium salt respectively). A Belgian study found that plastic packaging may play an important role in
Green Drinks chapters around the world personally helping to start or influence 200+ chapters including a chapter in Kabul, Afghanistan and is the USA point person for Green Drinks. As of 15 February 2008, Melbourne, Australia holds the record for the world's biggest Green Drinks. Over 1700 people attended an event held on the first evening of the city's 2008 Sustainable Living Festival. In December 2008, the Organizer for the Green Drinks Hawaii events added a social networking site for all the Green Drinks attendees worldwide. Green Drinks Green Drinks is an informal networking event where environmentally minded people meet over drinks.