Many Saudis and expatriates are unhappy over the half-riyal increase for a can of soda and have called for a nationwide five-day boycott. Emails and sms doing the rounds, and various websites have featured messages from people calling for the boycott. “No to the rise in soda prices” and “Let them not benefit from the half riyal” were the main messages coming from those calling for a boycott. Stores have reported a drop in sales. “Many of the soda products remained on the shelves because citizens have decided to drink juice instead. Many have told me that juice is cheaper and full of vitamins,” said Ahmed Hussain, a salesperson in Al-Safa District. Saudi Gazette spoke with Abdulrahman Al-Ghamdi, the owner of “Nahr Al-Oyoon Factory,” producing mineral drinking water. “We are against such an unreasonable increase in soda prices, so boycotting soda products is very important. Look what the Italians did when there was a rise in egg prices. They boycotted eggs. Now the egg price in Italy has come down from the original prices, but people are still angry and refuse to buy eggs,” he said.
