School bans on sugary drinks fizzle
22nd November 2011
By Staff writer
Researchers assessed intake among 6900 Year 5 and Year 8 students from public schools with policies ranging from bans on any sugar-sweetened drink, or soft drink only bans, to no restrictions at all.
Irrespective of approach, about 85% of students reported consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at least once in the past week and 26–33% reported daily consumption.
“Comprehensive sugar-sweetened beverage policies were not associated with overall consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, which was largely independent of students’ in-school sugar-sweetened beverage access,” the study found.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med; online 7 Nov
