Fifty-nine votes was the margin in favour of banning Coca-Cola products in student union shops in a ballot of students at University College Dublin completed last night.
The motion, over alleged human rights abuses, banning the products was passed by 1,629 votes in favour to 1,570 against. The ban will come into effect following a 60-day cooling-off period allowed under the Students Union constitution. Within this period a second referendum can be called.
Controversy surrounded yesterday's vote, with "No" campaigners claiming that hundred of students may have been disenfranchised.
The motion was proposed by archaeology student Mr Finbar Dwyer. He said that turnout was about 20 per cent of the 17,000 students registered to vote "which for UCD that's a pretty high turnout".
Five students union shops will be affected; four on the Belfield campus and one in Earlsfort Terrace. The bars and private franchises on the campus will not be affected.
His motion was put forward in protest at alleged human rights abuses against the company's employees in Columbia. These allegations have been described as "totally false" by the company.
SIPTU has also come out against the ban claiming that if it spreads to other university campuses, up to 1,000 jobs in Coca-Cola franchise companies are threatened in Dublin and Belfast.
In a statement issued through its Dublin Drinks, Tobacco and Wholesale Distribution Branch, workers say they were appalled to hear of the confusion and misinformation in the referendum about the production of Coca-Cola products in Ireland.
The statement says: "We respect the interest shown by students in human rights and injustice around the world. Trade union and human rights in Colombia have to be strengthened and protected.
"However, we do not believe a boycott of Coca Cola products is the most effective way of expressing this concern at the present time."
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