Water Supply in Schools
One of the best ways to reduce unhealthy soft drink consumption is to get
rid of inappropriate drinks vending, and replace this with bottled water.
RedBranch have negotiated on behalf of schools so that Ballygowan bottled
water can be sold in schools at a reduced price.
The RedBranch bottled water initiative has been trialled successfully in the
Mid-West, with 60% of secondary schools in Co. Clare ditching the sale of
fizzy drinks.
When water is available, and fizzy drink sales are restricted, we see a
clear change in the habits of young people – they drink less sugary drinks
and consume more water. The feedback from teachers also suggests that
getting rid of sugary fizzy beverages improves student behaviour.
Contact RedBranch
to change over to healthy drinks vending in your school.
What's
Wrong With Soft Drinks?
A
recent report by safefood has highlighted the role that soft drinks
play in childhood obesity - the latest in a long line of research
stressing the importance of reducing the consumption of fizzy drinks.
You can see more information on the effect that fizzy drink consumption
has on health by viewing our fact sheet: "Soft
Drinks, Hard Facts".
Research conducted by RedBranch in Irish secondary schools has revealed
that just 5% of students drink water on a daily basis, compared with 50%
consuming fizzy drinks at every lunch break.
Soft drink consumption is problematic amongst children in
Ireland and the UK. Our school
surveys have demonstrated that fizzy drinks have become normalised, and
that children are drinking far less water. You
can see some of the effects of regular soft-drinks consumption by clicking
here. Reduced
consumption of soft drinks will benefit our children’s long term
health. In addition, if your school sells caffeine laden soft drinks, this will
have an effect upon behaviour.
We
have seen students shift their pattern of consumption away from fizzy
drinks when bottled water is made easily available and soft drinks vending
machines are removed. We have arranged for schools to sell and vend
bottled water at a reduced rate. Bottled water is seen as "cool" by students, who also
appreciate the cheaper cost.
We
make the following recommendations with respect to drinks in schools:
 | Vending
machines selling soft drinks should be eliminated
from schools
|
| Schools
should consider restricting the consumption of soft drinks within school
buildings
|
| Water
fountains should be installed where possible
|
| Water
vending machines should be installed where water fountains are unavailable
|
| Bottled
water can be made cheaply available in schools, an economic incentive which
helps to shift consumption away from soft drinks
|
| Schools
should have tight control over drinks sold in school, and these should be
limited to water, milk (preferably low-fat)
and 100% juice |
| Advertising
for soft drinks should be eliminated in schools
|
