Colorado educators ban selling sodas at schools
By Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published December 10, 2008 at 6:40 p.m.
School vending machines and cafeterias will no longer sell soda or other sugary soft drinks under regulations approved Wednesday by the Colorado Board of Education.
High school students will still be allowed to buy low-calorie sport drinks. But board members specifically barred diet soda.
"If they're allowed diet soda, kids get in the habit of drinking soda," said board member Evie Hudak.
The rules take effect July 1, 2009, or when a school district completes its contract with a distributor.
The board vote was unanimous, following testimony by parents and medical experts who said only healthy choices should be available in schools.
"When all the bad choices are available at school, it undercuts parents' ability to guide their children through the fast food and drink minefield," said Phyllis Albritton, an Evergreen parent who is active in the Jefferson County PTA.
The legislature last spring adopted a bill barring all but healthy beverages in schools, but directed the board to decide which drinks to allow. The bill was intended to reduce childhood obesity.
The board vote permits water, low-fat milk, low-fat flavored milk, milk substitutes approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and juice in elementary and middle schools.
High school students can buy the same items, but in larger portions, plus low-calorie sport drinks and other unspecified low-calorie beverages.
An amendment to bar diet soda passed unanimously.
Bruce Caughey of the Colorado Association of School Executives, the group that includes school superintendents, said he believes most districts were are on their way to eliminating unhealthy beverages. He wasn't sure if the districts were eliminating diet soda.
University of Colorado dental school professor Paul Bottone warned that many of the chemicals listed on diet sodas could prove harmful.
Pediatrician Sandy Stenmark said federal agencies have determined that artificial sweeteners in diet soda are not harmful. But she doesn't drink them or serve them to her children, Stenmark said.
"The healthiest beverages are water and low-fat milk. If you wanted to do what was healthiest for the children, those would be the only beverages you would allow in schools," Stenmark said.
Stenmark said fruit juice is high in calories and vegetable juice is high in sodium.
Board president Pamela Jo Suckla voted for the rules "under duress." She believes parents should determine what their children drink, but bowed to the legsilative directive that the board pass rules.
Board member Elaine Gantz Berman said the rule is needed.
"I am paying for the health care of diabetic children. I am paying for the health care of obese children," Berman said.
She added, "I don't drink artificial sweeteners in anything."
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December 10, 2008
7:10 p.m.
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GOPteacher writes:
Oh, well thank God. That should solve all of our educational problems. I'll bet CSAP scores will spike upwards now.
December 10, 2008
7:21 p.m.
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River_Bolden writes:
wow. This is really good news.
Soda is filled with alot of chemicals that are not good for you, especially children.
I hope this trend carries on.
-RB
December 10, 2008
7:24 p.m.
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dadio161 writes:
what will happen if I allow my 16 year old son to bring a soda from home? Is this ban from school sales only?
December 10, 2008
7:28 p.m.
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diggtbks writes:
Why were the soda machines and other vending machines filled with junk allowed in schools in the first place? For the $$$$$...
December 10, 2008
7:28 p.m.
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History writes:
step in the right direction - now if we could mandate physical education everyday for every student we would be getting somewhere
no dadio the school can not stop a student from bringing a soda, simply schools can not sell them
December 10, 2008
7:28 p.m.
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River_Bolden writes:
"The rules take effect July 1, 2009, or when a school district completes its contract with a distributor"
This sentence leads me to believe that in-house sales are banned.
I would suspect if someone brought a soda from home, its acceptable.
-RB
December 10, 2008
7:39 p.m.
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gnns1295 writes:
It's about time. They should be getting a well balanced meal at school or bringing one. I don't recall soda or sport drinks being a part of the nutritional pyramid.
December 10, 2008
7:49 p.m.
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diggtbks writes:
They need to start playing dodge ball and toughen up a little. The worthless libs in the school system made all the kids fat wimps.
December 10, 2008
7:55 p.m.
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Outside_the_Box writes:
This is an important decision. We need to pressure the beverage companies to create beverage alternatives that dont use High-Fructose Corn Syrup or unhealthy artificial sweeteners like Aspartame. And also we need to encourage those around us to consume such drinks in moderation. The obesity problem in our country is growing at such an alarming rate.
December 10, 2008
8:05 p.m.
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farsidefan writes:
Does this ban include high school sports stadiums too ? Does it inlcude charter schools ?
I know some schools use the profits for after prom gatherings and similiar types of events.
December 10, 2008
8:11 p.m.
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JluvDC writes:
I think the lack of PE classes is more a problem then the schools selling soda. When I was in elementary school during the 1980s we had PE class 5 days a week for 30 minutes. That continued in middle school and then dropped off in high school, where you still needed a certain amount of PE credits to graduate. At my son's elementary school they do PE for 30 minutes 4 days a MONTH. That is it....they rotate it with other "specials". The rational from what I'm told is that kids are being encouraged to exercise more at home. Great in theory, poor in practice.
December 10, 2008
8:38 p.m.
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roadstar writes:
diggtbks writes: They need to start playing dodge ball and toughen up a little. The worthless libs in the school system made all the kids fat wimps.
No,diggtbks, children seriously hurting other children playing dodge ball, often intentionally, and the subsequent medical expenses and lawsuits killed dodgeball at recess. Parents letting kids play video games, watch t.v., and eat unhealthy snacks and foods almost all the time made the kids overweight.
December 10, 2008
8:57 p.m.
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maithoughts writes:
I skate 5 plus afternoons a week at a local elementary school. There is one father there a least 4 of those days playing with his children. Not one of them is fat. Until parents again take control of their children's health and education nothing the legislature can do or money can solve. It's time for parents to be parents even if it makes them unpopular with their children. Turn off their video games and kick them outside.
December 10, 2008
9:24 p.m.
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pennylayne writes:
I'm rather put off by this, why do they have to stick their noses in everywhere? Are they going to head off to college campuses and pull all soda machines out of there? When do we let our kids grow up and make a few decisions. I'm not talking about elementary, and middle schools but when I was in high school we had vending machines open ALL day long. This is the time our young people are learning boundaries and moderation. Maybe not so well but that's how you learn. I have always told my children that no food is off limits but it needs to be eaten, or drank in MODERATION and that as long as they are doing something physical they will be ok. I'm so glad now that I can just shut up and let the fine people running this state raise my kids.
December 10, 2008
9:40 p.m.
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EDIT writes:
Tsk, tsk Rocky. It's healthFUL, not healthY.
December 10, 2008
9:43 p.m.
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roger44 writes:
pennylayne, parents are letting their kids sit at a computer or tv, or video game, no exercise done. Schools took out PE classes, so no exercise there for sure. Someone has to take charge, I agree that they shouldn't have to, but parents are failing. And you've got to know that even if you tell the kids moderation, when they're out of sight they do what they darn well want to. make the parking lot 500 feet from the school, might help.
December 10, 2008
9:56 p.m.
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bad_vibes writes:
Sounds like an opening for a resourceful young high school student to sell the sweet nectar of life, Mountain Dew, from the trunk of his mommy's car.
December 10, 2008
10:33 p.m.
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cindyark2 writes:
Pennylayne- kids are more obese these days than ever before. It spirals into an out of control situation and eventually an increase in medical conditions and healthcare costs. Parents know it is not good for kids to be drinking soda to begin with, so helping them by imposing good choices is great. Why should the rest of us pay for those health conditions when we can try to prevent them?
December 10, 2008
10:45 p.m.
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GOPteacher writes:
OK, let's face it - the big question is...can teachers still buy sodas in the teacher's lounge??
December 10, 2008
11:49 p.m.
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MorticiaA writes:
It does not say here what the rules are if a kid bring soda in his/her lunch. Are they going back to the - Go to the Principals Office for chewing gum method? We have a huge problem with kids saying screw it and dropping out. Or just going to scool for a social fix. Is this really where we want to draw the line? Aren't there real issues that need to be addressed? Like how do we keep kids in the friggin classroom?
December 11, 2008
12:42 a.m.
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Rehia writes:
Haha, I kind of find this hilarious. These kids are going to be livid. And if it's true that they can bring their own sodas, they're going to start making major profits. Schools make so much money off of the sodas they sell. We'll see how long this lasts. Kids are smart, they'll figure out ways around it.
December 11, 2008
6:10 a.m.
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Tom writes:
Schools DO make a lot of money from soda sales. And without 3A and 3B, money is going to be really tight. Seriously, a school's ability to buy enough computers and textbooks will be negatively affected by this. I'm wondering how long this will last.
December 11, 2008
6:18 a.m.
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River_Bolden writes:
"When do we let our kids grow up and make a few decisions"
they are banning sales, not ability to drink. Kids will just have to bring their own from home.
"Schools DO make a lot of money from soda sales"
you have the sales data to back that up?
-RB
December 11, 2008
6:58 a.m.
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Bonji writes:
River_Bolden: My school had upwards of $25,000 generated from sales of Pepsi products last year to use on student related activities. We have already switched to all no-sugar products but still sell diet drinks, and our sales are already down. Being in a high school, if the kids can't get soda on campus, they just go buy it off-campus. We are going to lose a lot of revenue from this change.
December 11, 2008
7:12 a.m.
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organize writes:
Kudos to the State Board of Education for passing this important rule. Our schools should be modeling healthy behavior for our kids - sodas have no nutritional value and have no place in our schools.
December 11, 2008
7:20 a.m.
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MrWright writes:
It is about time!! This is good news for teachers and especially fat lazy kids who chug-a-lug way to often!!
December 11, 2008
7:31 a.m.
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SoCol writes:
Just plain common sense, at least for the elementary and middle schools, now if they could only do something about a teacher's ability to discipline without fear of termination or lawsuit....
December 11, 2008
7:41 a.m.
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Marshdale writes:
What ever happened to the school lunch program? It was not the best tasting stuff in the world but it was cheap and ballanced. I liked the Pig in a Blanket and the Saulsbury Steak the best. Now I watch parents give their kids 10 or 20 dollars a day for lunch so they can go to Chipotle for lunch. Rediculous!! I agree with PE class every day for kids. I looked forward to it when I was a kid. It got you going for the day and it probably reduced some of the restlessness in the classroom. If people want schools to go back to the basics, then the school lunch program should come back and PE should be mandatory every day.
December 11, 2008
7:47 a.m.
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Marshdale writes:
SoCol: You are so right about the teachers being able to discipline. When I was in elementary school teachers were allowed to swat you with a paddle. I turned out ok. It was more embarrassing than painfull. It did not kill my self esteem. Not every kid needs a swat. I was one who did however. Keeping me after school or not allowing me to go out on recess was a party for me.
December 11, 2008
8:04 a.m.
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River_Bolden writes:
"Bonji"
I think the issue was health motivated rather than money motivated.
If the school systems need to sell soda to generate funds, then we are all reall in trouble.
-RB
December 11, 2008
8:07 a.m.
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Grim_Reefer writes:
More teacher authority and, dare I say, school uniforms would be two good next steps.
December 11, 2008
8:09 a.m.
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vendari01 writes:
The fast food and soft drinks went into the schools after it was proven that the kids were not eating the standardized meals. It was thought at the time that it was better to supply them with something they would eat, than throw away food. Even I brought a lunch, many times, simply because I couldn't swallow the swill we were being told was so good for us. So don't be surprised, if this all cycles back through again.
December 11, 2008
8:28 a.m.
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toocool writes:
We expect the 7-11's, Grab & Go's, grocery stores and the fast food joints all over Colorado to post age limits, denying all consumers below the age of 16 without a parent present to purchase those unheathful "Super Gulpys", sodas, a/o sugar loaded drinks because THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE THE LITTLE BUGGERS WILL BE HEADED BEFORE OR AFTER SCHOOL.
December 11, 2008
8:33 a.m.
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UNV_ME writes:
You wanna help kids get healthy? Parents should ban video games. As a kid we used to play on little league teams, play "tag" outside or ride our bikes around the neighborhood. All kids do nowadays is sit on a couch and play mindless video games. Some adults are guilty of this too. Banning soda will have a minimal affect.
December 11, 2008
8:33 a.m.
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fastnloose writes:
I work at a high school,the shops around the school love this idea,ka-ching.Money in the bank and yes selling 6 packs of soda from the trunk will work.
December 11, 2008
8:43 a.m.
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JustaMom writes:
I agree that soda shouldn't be sold in elementary school. And I think that elementary school kids should have gym more than once a week. I also believe that principals and teachers shouldn't take recess away as a punishment. But now everyone is so PC kids can't be kids even on the playground. No dodge ball, no games where one person excels over another. Even the most skilled athlete is supposed to "dumb" themselves down so the other kids won't feel bad or sit on the wall and twiddle their thumbs because in this new world everyone has to be equal.
In junior high and high school there have been enterprising students who brought soda and candy to school and sold it out of their backpacks right off school grounds. They sold it cheaper than what the school sold it for.
With the exception of freshmen, most high school students are allowed off campus when they have an off class or lunchtime. And near most high schools there are McDonald's, Subways, Wendy's, etc. Those kids will just go there and get lunch. And what about Monster drinks and other energy drinks?
Schools made a lot of money off those vending machines and now that revenue will be going to fast food restaurants and stores.
December 11, 2008
10:02 a.m.
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River_Bolden writes:
"McDonald's, Subways, Wendy's, etc. Those kids will just go there and get lunch"
man, those kids must be really overweight or on their way to being overweight, liver probelms, hard arteries. Yuck!
Super Size Me!!
-RB
December 11, 2008
10:12 a.m.
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BroncoRick69 writes:
I'll have the " I feel so bloated I wanna sleep for 3 days meal".
December 11, 2008
10:24 a.m.
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InformITude writes:
Since when do low cal "sport drinks" qualify as "good for you?" I have to wonder if Evie Hudak has read the labels on these drinks she promotes? Many of them are filled with sodium and chemicals, that is why they are sport drinks, they replenish salt and electrolites lost during sweat producing activities. Too much of these are bad for the body and can send these children to the hospital. Not to mention artificial sweeteners in low cal products! If these are the only options, the children will drink too much! Whatever happened to juice and water as healthy beverage options?
December 11, 2008
10:37 a.m.
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pklee527 writes:
Lets see. The schools put these machines in to help pay for things-- it meant more $$$$$$$$$.
Now, they realized that all the sugar and chemicals had side effects. So the problem is much worse than what they thought was a solution. I wonder how much damage was done in the meantime? How much money will it cost taxpayers to "fix" this?
December 11, 2008
12:22 p.m.
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mytwosense writes:
I approve of this measure. While I don't plan on making sodas and sweets completely off-limits to my son, I do want to provide healthier alternatives more often. I agree with the comment from a PTA mom quoted in the article that selling junk food in schools undermines our own efforts as parents to get our kids to eat/drink more healthily.
Definitely need to re-instate physical education and recess. If anything, kids, at least our younger ones, should be spending more time outdoors than they do inside studying dry subjects that they can really only pay attention to for brief periods at a time.
December 11, 2008
12:25 p.m.
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anderson writes:
Good decision by the Board of Education.
December 11, 2008
1:54 p.m.
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wow writes:
Finally practicing what they preach about looking after the health of our children. It is the least they could possibly do to make sodas unavailable.
Next, if they really care, the need to look into the nutritional content of the school lunches. Deep fried, proccessed, chemical preservative laden, bleached, artificially flavored junk is what's for lunch. It's cheap, but it's stuff most parents would never serve at home.
Phys ed should be a daily class for all grades complete with jumping jacks etc. What little phys ed they do get is a joke. There is no actual physical exercise and basic sportsmanship isn't even a component of the "lessons".
A stay at home parent can ban video games and tv, but after homework and dinner, chores and baths, there's no time left for bikes and skateboards around the neighborhood. Kids need the opportunity to eat well and excercise during the school day.
They will learn better and behave better if they are looked at as growing kids rather than as potential sources of revenue, or as law suits waiting to happen.