Soft Drink Companies Pledge to Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Drink Sales to Primary Schools

The Australian Beverages Council has unveiled new guidelines, signed off by almost all major soft drink manufacturers, to reduce sugar-sweetened drink sales to primary schools and limit direct marketing to children. The measures include a ban on selling such drinks in primary school canteens and a prohibition on advertising them directly to primary school-age children or in TV programs primarily watched by kids. While parents' groups, dieticians, and obesity experts have tentatively welcomed the changes, some have expressed concerns about the practicalities and limitations of the policy.

Key Takeaways:

• The Australian Beverages Council has introduced new guidelines to reduce sugar-sweetened drink sales to primary schools and limit direct marketing to children.
• The policy includes a ban on selling sugar-sweetened drinks in primary school canteens and a prohibition on advertising them directly to primary school-age children or in TV programs primarily watched by kids.
• Manufacturers will re-label products to declare kilojoule content on the front and additional nutritional information on the back, and increase the range of low-calorie products.
• The policy aims to help manage obesity, but manufacturers deny there is a direct link between their products and the issue.
• The boycott excludes so-called "diet drinks" as they contain no energy, but will include TV advertising and advertising in high school programs.
• The Australian Council of State School Organisations, Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW, Dietitians Association of Australia, and Diabetes Australia have welcomed the changes, but express concerns about the limitations of the policy.

Statistics:

• 95% of major soft drink manufacturers have signed off on the new guidelines (Source: Australian Beverages Council).
• 2 years is the timeframe for the introduction of the measures (Source: Australian Beverages Council).
• 600 mls is the current size of a Coke bottle compared to 200 mls 30 years ago, representing a 300% increase in energy content (Source: Ian Caterson, Sydney University obesity expert).
• The policy aims to increase the range of low-calorie products, but no specific percentage or time frame has been announced.

Sources:

• Australian Beverages Council (ABC)
• Tony Gentile, ABC director
• Ian Caterson, Sydney University obesity expert
• Australian Council of State School Organisations
• Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW
• Dietitians Association of Australia
• Diabetes Australia
• Australian Associated Press (AAP)