# Sugary Drinks Out of Schools

> Public health groups urge cross-party support to ban sugary drinks in schools and ECE centres.
- Title: Sugary Drinks Out of Schools · RNZ | Shortify
- Summary: Public health groups urge cross-party support to ban sugary drinks in schools and ECE centres. Nineteen New Zealand health organisations call for government…
- Keywords: sugary drinks, schools, ece centres, public health, new zealand, cross-party support, health policy, politics, news, Sugary, Drinks, RNZ
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1804845/should-not-be-available-calls-for-political-support-to-axe-sugary-drinks-from-schools-ece-centres
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-08T23:53:32+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sugary drinks, schools, ece centres, public health, new zealand, cross-party support, health policy, politics, news
## 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
## Key takeaway

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.