Lawmakers want some beverages banned in schools

MANILA, Philippines - Two congresswomen are proposing a ban on the sale of soft drinks, coffee and similar beverages in schools.

The proposed ban is contained in Bill 4021, entitled, “Health Beverage Options Act of 2014,” which Reps Maria Leonor Robredo of Camarines Sur and Kaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands have filed.         

“Academic studies have shown that there is nothing healthy about carbonated soft drinks or soda.  In fact, there is continuous stream of scientific studies that show the health risks of soda intake,” the two said.

 â€œSoft drinks contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, phosphorus, and carbon acids which have harmful effects on the body,” they said.

Under the bill, schools would be prohibited from providing or selling the following beverages to elementary school children: soft drinks, sports drinks, punches, and iced teas; fruit-based drinks that contain less than 50 percent real fruit juice or that contain additional sweeteners; and drinks containing caffeine, excluding low-fat or fat-free chocolate milk.

Fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50 percent fruit juice and that do not contain additional sweeteners, waters and seltzer, low-fat or fat-free milk, including, but not limited to, chocolate milk, soy milk, rice milk, and other similar dairy or non-dairy calcium-fortified milk would be allowed to be sold or provided.

Covered by the proposed ban are elementary and high schools, public or private.