The McDonaldisation of everything aka how they lie to you

I have a confession to make.

It’s nothing big, and I’m not ashamed of it by any means. I used to drink Vitamin Water.

Maybe it was the quirky labels, the ones that they cunningly customised to fit with whichever country they were trying to flog their wares I bought a bottle in Canada once, and the label had some Canuck reference. The bottles sold here in Scotland have labels aimed at Scots – it’s been awhile since I bought a bottle, but from what I remember the words “hangover” and “whiskey” were mentioned. Don’t quote me on that though.

Maybe it was the fact that one of the flavours was Dragon fruit.

I never picked up a bottle, looked at the label and thought “ooh, healthy!” I assumed they were healthier than fizzy juice, but I didn’t really think they were packed chock full of vitamins and I could stop eating my five-a-day.

I stopped buying (and drinking) the stuff when my boyfriend broke the news to me Vitamin Water is owned by Coca Cola. I don’t drink Coke or Pepsi for a reason – multinational soft drink companies that are trying to take over the world are not getting my dollar! That’s also why I don’t eat McDonalds or Burger King. Well, other than the “food” is shite.

Let’s just think of it this way. If I want to indulge in greasy, fatty, deep fried mess, I’d rather spend my couple of quid at a chippy, where there is at least some small chance the food is produced on site. Family businesses are always a favourite for me. Even if the burger patties and the chicken tenders come frozen in an industrial sized bag, at least your buck is going towards someone who lives and works in your community, not the McDonalds brand.

That’s why I am proud to live in one of the only countries in the world were Coca Cola and Pepsi are outsold by a local soft drink. I don’t drink Irn Bru either, but it’s nice to know Coke and Pepsi haven’t taken over every corner of the globe. There’s something comforting and homey about the Irn Bru adverts, and I think it’s a humour that may not translate well out of Scotland.