Editorial: Sugary drinks should be banned from schools

Arataki School students Michael Todd, 8 (left), Lucy Lloyd, 7, and Jakhova Wharepapa, 9, enjoy a refreshing drink from their water bottles. The school discourages sugary drinks. Photo/file

The New Zealand Dental Association wants all sugary drinks banned at school.

Spokesperson Dr Rob Beaglehole said it was not uncommon for dentists to remove teeth from 18-month-olds because they had been drinking sugary drinks out of baby bottles.

The association says a can of Coke has nine teaspoons of sugar in it, while the World Health Organisation recommended a daily sugar intake of six teaspoons per day.

What many parents don't realise is that fruit drinks are also not good for young children. They are acidic and sugary and cause the enamel in teeth to dissolve.

Apple juice and orange juice have an acid level of between 3 and 4 on the pH scale according to the Ministry of Health, slightly less acidic than vinegar and similar to wine. Carbonated soft drinks and sports drinks are even more acidic.

The ministry also says a carton of fruit juice has an added sugar content of about seven teaspoons of sugar, the same as a can of energy drink.

The best drinks for all children are milk and water, both of which have no added sugar and are not acidic.

Thirty-five per cent of New Zealand adults are overweight and this number is only going to increase if children aren't taught from a young age to look after themselves and, unfortunately, many won't learn this at home.

School, by its very definition, is an institute of education and it is here where children should be learning the life skills they need to succeed as an adult. Being healthy is just as important, if not more so, as reading and mathematics.

Plus, if they're not drinking fizzy or fruit juice at school, that's at least six hours a day when their sugar intake is restricted.

I can't see any downside to a ban.