Call to ban sugary drinks in schools, hospitals, sporting centres

Brigid O’Connell
October 01, 2013
Herald Sun

THE price of soft drink would increase by 20 per cent and their sale banned in hospitals, schools and community sporting centres in a radical plan by Victoria’s peak public health experts to reduce young people’s heavy reliance on sugar-laden beverages.

Experts from five leading health promotion bodies, including the Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia and Heart Foundation will meet for the first time tomorrow to tackle sugary drink consumption, amid claims soft drink companies are positioning themselves as part of the obesity solution through aggressive advertising targeting doctors and children.

Chair of Cancer Council Australia’s public health committee, Craig Sinclair said sugary drinks were no longer occasional treats, and it was often easier a soft drink vending machine than a water tap.
“While a hamburger and chips has a large amounts of fat, there is some nutritional benefit and you get the feeling of your stomach being full,” Mr Sinclair said.

“Sugar-sweetened beverages are pretty much nutrient-free and you get none of full feeling that comes with other fast food, so you continue to eat what you wanted to anyway.”

The Rethink Sugary Drink Forum is calling for the Federal Government to investigate tax options to increase the price of soft drinks and redirect this revenue to reducing the cost of healthy foods.
They also want to reduce children’s exposure by restricting the availability of soft drinks and sports drinks and vitamin waters at schools, sporting events, workplaces and healthcare settings, and for these bans to be inspected.

The sale of soft drinks was banned in Victorian schools in 2006, but Mr Sinclair said 10 per cent of schools still had vending machines selling these drinks.

Australian Beverages Council chief Geoff Parker said the campaign was “ill conceived and misguided” because Australians were already reducing the amount of soft drink they drank.

“Three of the top four selling soft drink brands are low and no kilojoule. Australian’s are already getting the message,” Mr Parker said.

Ashley Gardiner, spokesman for Minister for Health David Davis did not comment on whether the Government supported the recommendations but that it “looked forward to receiving input” from the forum.
The Rethink Sugary Drink campaign has launched a new online advertisement, showing a man drinking a soft drink can full of congealed fat.

The message is that consuming a can of soft drink each day, which includes 10 teaspoons of sugar, would lead to 5kg weight gain over the year unless offset by diet and exercise changes.