The following series of questions and answers provide additional information about beverages in schools and related health issues.
- Why are you working with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation?
- How is the beverage industry working to implement this policy?
- What is the timeline for implementing this policy?
- How will progress toward implementation be reported?
- Have bottlers agreed to this new policy?
- Why does the policy remove regular soft drinks from schools?
- What is the beverage industry doing to support efforts to keep kids active?
- Why are low-calorie soft drinks allowed in schools under the policy?
- Why are sports drinks allowed in schools under the policy?
- Why did you agree to limit portion sizes for certain drinks?
- What does this policy mean for schools drafting and implementing new wellness policies?
- Who decides what beverages are sold in schools?
- How is the money earned through beverage contracts used?
- What are the benefits of promoting wellness in the school environment?
- What is the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program?
Why are you working with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation?
The beverage industry recognizes the importance of ensuring healthy lifestyles for children, which is why the industry worked with the Alliance to develop the National School Beverage Guidelines in 2006. Our work with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation builds upon the beverage industry’s long-standing tradition of being community leaders.
The Alliance shares our desire for schools to have comprehensive fitness, health and nutrition programs to teach children how to lead healthy lives. The new beverage initiative reinforces with children the importance of balancing calories consumed with calories burned. We believe achieving this balance is the most meaningful way to have an impact on the health and wellness of our children.
The Alliance’s comprehensive approach to school wellness pursues this balance as well. The Alliance's Healthy Schools Program seeks to increase physical activity in schools as well as change the mix of foods sold in schools. And the Alliance provides a strong working relationship among the American Heart Association, William J. Clinton Foundation, American Beverage Association, and America’s schools and parents.
How is the beverage industry working to implement this policy?
We’ve been busy during these first two years. We are reformulating products, developing new packaging, retrofitting machines, training company employees on making the transition at schools in their areas, and working with schools and school districts to change the product mix.
The work is time-consuming. But we are committed to making changes in more than 123,000 school districts (and thousands of schools) throughout the country. And our results show that commitment.
What is the timeline for implementing this policy?
We are implementing the policy now. The goal is to achieve full implementation for all schools prior to the 2009-2010 school year. Reaching these goals is possible, provided that schools and school districts are willing to amend existing school contracts and change the mix of products in their schools.
How will progress toward implementation be reported?
The American Beverage Association will support an annual analysis that will disclose the status of this initiative. The ABA will make this information public on its Web site and/or by press release. The first progress report was released in September 2007, with the second issued in September 2008.
Have bottlers agreed to this new policy?
The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and PepsiCo, Inc. have all signed onto the Alliance and will encourage their bottlers to only sell products that meet the specifications of the initiative.
Why does the policy remove regular soft drinks from schools?
We believe soft drinks are appropriate for children and adults and, like all our beverages, can be part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle when consumed in moderation. It is appropriate for parents to treat their child to a soft drink. And it is perfectly appropriate for teenagers to choose a soft drink as refreshment.
But we recognize the uniqueness of the school environment, and we know that parents have a desire for greater control in the school setting. This initiative was developed in partnership with parents and gives them more control over the beverage choices their children have during school. It’s a common sense response to better serve both parents and children.
What is the beverage industry doing to support efforts to keep kids active?
The beverage industry provides millions of dollars of support and sponsors youth sports team programs and leagues throughout the country, including the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs.
For instance, in conjunction with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, The Coca-Cola Company developed the “Live It!” program, which encourages middle school students to get active and provides nutritional education materials.
PepsiCo, Inc. provides “Balanced First” nutrition education programs to elementary and middle schools.
By shifting the focus to calories, we hope schools will begin teaching students how to consume foods and beverages as part of a balanced diet and be more active.
Why are low-calorie soft drinks allowed in schools under the policy?
The policy’s focus is on calories and helping to control calorie consumption. Students enjoy variety in their beverage choices, and diet soft drinks are an appropriate refreshment for high school students. The fact that these drinks are low-calorie and refreshing helps to reinforce the focus on calories for students as part of maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle.
Diet soft drinks allow students to enjoy a refreshing beverage without consuming calories.
Why are sports drinks allowed in schools under the policy?
Sports drinks clearly have a functional place in schools. Studies show that 53% of high school students participate in interscholastic sports before, during and after school, and sports drinks provide a functional benefit necessary for students to add energy and absorb fluids efficiently. This makes sports drinks an effective beverage for pre-hydrating and re-hydrating students active in team sports, recreational activities and rigorous physical education activity. In short, the calories contained in sports drinks, largely through carbohydrates, are needed to fuel working muscles of active students. Furthermore, the guidelines cap calories for sports drinks in schools at 66 calories per 8 ounces.
Why did you agree to limit portion sizes for certain drinks?
It is appropriate to focus on calories. So with certain caloric drinks that have nutritional or functional value – such as sports drinks, juice and milk – we agree with efforts to keep calorie consumption in check as well.
Limiting calories in schools is a sensible approach that acknowledges our industry’s long-standing belief that solutions to obesity must focus on teaching kids to consume a balanced diet and exercise more.
What does this policy mean for schools drafting and implementing new wellness policies?
We encourage schools to consider our guidelines as they develop the beverage portion of their wellness policies. It is a strong, balanced and common-sense initiative.
Who decides what beverages are sold in schools?
The American Beverage Association believes that parents, teachers and school officials should decide what children eat and drink at home and at school. That is why we believe that parents, principals, teachers and school administrators can make the best decisions for their schools. The beverage industry has listened to those who know best and is implementing national School Beverage Guidelines that provide even more lower-calorie, nutritious and functional beverages. Our guidelines were developed with the expertise of the American Heart Association and the support of the William J. Clinton Foundation.
How is the money earned through beverage contracts used?
The funds generated from business partnerships initiated by schools with local beverage bottlers are used to support a variety of school activities. Secondary school principals recognize that business-school partnerships are an important part of the education funding formula. And principals invest this revenue into school activities at their discretion. Schools report they distribute revenue from beverage sales in six general areas:
- Sports and physical education equipment
- After school student activities
- Instructional materials
- Arts and theater programs
- Computers/technology equipment
- Field trips
Secondary school principals recognize that business-school partnerships are an important part of the education funding formula. And principals invest this revenue into school activities at their discretion.
What are the benefits of promoting wellness in the school environment?
Science shows that healthy children have increased school attendance, better behavior, and both learn and perform better. If we can teach students how to balance calories consumed with calories burned, we can give them the tools to live a balanced lifestyle as adults.
What is the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program?
The Healthy Schools Program is a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation. It is a great way for schools to get the help they need to become healthier places for staff and students. The program will support schools in their efforts to:
- Develop systems for addressing student and staff health
- Increase opportunities for students to exercise and play
- Make healthier foods and beverages available during the regular and extended school day
- Increase resources for teachers and staff to adopt healthy behaviors and be healthy role models