From RNZ · RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa · · 1m 10s
Sugary Drinks Out of Schools
Public health groups urge cross-party support to ban sugary drinks in schools and ECE centres.
In brief
Public health groups urge cross-party support to ban sugary drinks in schools and ECE centres. Nineteen New Zealand health organisations call for government action to remove sugary drinks from schools and early childhood education centres to improve children's health and learning. Originally reported by RNZ.
Public health groups call for action
Nineteen public health organisations are calling for cross-party political support to make schools and early childhood education centres sugary drink free.
Health risks of sugary drinks
Sugary drinks cause unhealthy weight gain, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dental caries, and negative impacts on concentration, behaviour, and learning.
Dr Gerhard Sundborn explains
Sugar is the biggest driver of health issues, with 26 percent of children's sugar intake coming from sugary drinks.
“Sugar is the biggest driver of that and about 26 percent or over a quarter of the sugar children consume is from sugary drinks”
Proposed policy details
Drinks with more than 5g of sugar per 100 millilitres would not be available in schools and childcare centres, allowing water, unflavoured milk, and zero sugar alternatives.
Health benefits of policy
The policy would improve student health, reduce health system burden, and enhance learning outcomes by removing sugary drinks from schools.
“If we get sugar out of schools it's a step in the right direction and there'll be a lot less harm incurred on children in terms of dental caries but also other health issues and it's going to improve learning as well”
At a glance
Nineteen New Zealand health organisations call for government action to remove sugary drinks from schools and early childhood education centres to improve children's health and learning.
