Drinks in School
By Miranda HittiWebMD Medical News
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MDon Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Aug. 17, 2005 -- As the new school year starts, students may get a new menu of bottled drinks in school vending machines.
The American Beverage Association (ABA) has approved new guidelines on the drinks that should be sold in vending machines at schools. But, the rules aren't law. Drink makers and schools are free to decide to follow those guidelines or not.
"The success of the policy is dependent upon voluntary implementation of it by individual beverage companies and by school officials," states an ABA news release.
Proposed Changes
The ABA's new guidelines are:
Elementary schools: Only water or 100% juice.
Middle schools: Only nutritious and/or lower-calorie beverages, such as water, 100% juice, sports drinks, no-calorie soft drinks, and low-calorie juice drinks during the school day. No full-calorie soft drinks or full-calorie juice drinks with 5% or less juice until after school.
High schools: A variety of beverages, with soft drinks accounting for no more than half of the selection. Other options could include bottled water, 100% juice, sports drinks, and juice drinks.
The trade group is asking beverage producers and school districts to put the new rules into effect as soon as possible, according to an ABA news release.
The rules only affect drinks in vending machines, not drinks sold in school cafeterias or other locations.
Now really what is the world coming to when the government has to put laws into effect trying to keep today's kid in shape. I think that todays parents need to take away the playstations and the x-box and take the kids outside. Give them the chance to try and find something they like to do outdoors and then that i think will help them to become more active and in turn help the over weight problem that we have today. or i guess you could always send them to a military academy to.
posted by mpjoshbo85 @ 1:11 PM
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