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Silver Coke Bottles
The promotion of 600ml silver Diet Coke bottles in 2003 became a major issue in Australia because of their similarity to the bottles often used for chroming.
Chroming is the inhaling of fumes from metallic spray paint, usually from a bottle or plastic bag.
For me, this was personal. Many of the homeless kids I knew sniffed silver paint. Some were as young as nine, while others continued chroming into early adulthood. For many, it was a way to escape what was happening around them, particularly when they had no money.
A single spray can could be shared between several people and last most of the day.
One of the streetkids I knew was 15-year-old Shady, who gave me permission to photograph him.
@ 2001 National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
Unfortunately, it appears that most of the campaign material and documentation I created in 2003 no longer exists. I’ve also been unable to find records showing when Coca-Cola’s silver Diet Coke bottle promotion began or ended, or any of the responses and feedback relating to my campaign.
One item that has survived is a letter I wrote to journalist Kate from The West Australian, who was helping me get my voice heard and bring attention to the campaign.
Further Reading
The following resources were not available during my 2003 campaign but I’ve included them for anyone wanting to learn more about chroming, sniffing and inhalant use, or find ways to support people affected by it.
