By New America Media

Open happiness! Live for now!

Soda companies spend billions selling you a sexy, exciting lifestyle. But what are you really drinking when you open a can?

Soda consumption has been linked to type 2 diabetes, obesity, tooth decay and more.

Soda Sucks 2 is a youth creative contest that asks you to peel back the marketing veneer, do a little research and then make your own ad that speaks back to soda marketers.

“Young people are exposed to an incredible amount of advertising for a product with no nutritional value and which has been linked to serious medical problems.” Soda Sucks sponsor, Allen Meyer of New America Media, said. “Soda Sucks gives young people a chance to have some fun and hopefully to think critically about what is being marketed to them.”

The contest is open to Californians between the ages of 15 and 25. There are two categories: poster art and rap/music/video/skit.

The second category is open to any kind of performance that can be recorded either as an audio or video file. One grand prize of $1,000 will be awarded to each category. Entries must be received by Oct. 15.

Soda Sucks 2 is a sequel to the successful and much talked about Soda Sucks youth creative campaign held in the summer of 2011.

Winners from that contest will be featured in The California Museum’s “Health Happens Here” exhibit this fall.

Soda Sucks 2 is hosted by New America Media and the Richmond Pulse. For all the details visit www.whysodasucks.com.