2016: The year of sugary drinks free schools?

2016: The year of sugary drinks free schools?

The New Zealand Dental Association is encouraging all schools in New Zealand to become sugary drink free. Today the Ministries of Education and Health are joining force to encourage schools to adopt a water and milk only policy.

According to NZDA President Susan Gorrie this is a very significant development in the issue of tackling childhood tooth decay and obesity. “Sweet drinks such as soft drinks, fruit juice and smoothies are directly contributing to DHBs having to surgically remove decayed teeth from approximately 5000 children a year under general anaesthetic”.

There have been calls locally and nationally to tackle the issue seriously in the face of New Zealand’s skyrocketing childhood obesity rates. According to the Ministry of Health 33% of Kiwi kids are obese or overweight.

“We know that these sorts of drinks contribute to tooth decay and obesity, which is a leading risk factor for type-2 diabetes and heart disease and the NZDA hopes that schools move towards becoming sugary drink free in 2016” says NZDA CEO David Crum.

“We’re really glad to see the two Ministries taking a leadership on this. There are other healthy drink options such as water and plain milk and we hope schools will take up the challenge and go sugary drink free”, says David Crum.

The Education Gazette includes guidelines that also site the behavioural issues associated with sugary drinks and sets out a range of options aimed at helping schools implement the policy.

http://www.education.govt.nz/assets/Documents/School/SchoolsBulletin/2016-Bulletins/Issue46Bulletin.pdf

http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/Articles/Article.aspx?ArticleId=9251

ENDS

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