Stop the pop? L.A. school district votes to ban soft drinks from public schools - News Debate - Los Angeles - Brief Article

0 Comments | Current Events, Sept 27, 2002

VENDING MACHINES in Los Angeles (Calif.) schools will be losing their fizz. Last month, the Los Angeles school board, in charge of the second largest school district in the country, unanimously voted to ban the sale of soft drinks in all 677 of its middle schools and high schools during school hours.

Under the ban, cafeterias, student stores, and vending machines will offer students the choice of water, milk, or unsweetened juice drinks. Schools must comply with the ban by January 2004.

Experts say the Los Angeles ban may prompt a national trend. Only a few other school districts, including the Oakland Unified School District in northern California, have soda-pop bans in place.

Several L.A. school board members said they voted for the ban to help combat the rising level of childhood obesity. But schools in L.A. risk losing more than just the sugary drinks. Schools often rely on funds from soft-drink sales to support student activities.

Will Funds Go Flat?

Opponents of the ban say that expelling soda pop from schools could seriously threaten funding for school programs. In California, vending machine profits account for an estimated $14,000 per middle school and $39,000 per high school each year.

Alex Contreras, assistant principal of Los Angeles High School, said his school may be forced to cut some programs if funding is lost. "Honestly, some of those [school] programs will be hurt very badly, and I don't know what alternative we will have.... You can only sell so many candy bars and have so many magazine drives [to raise money]."

Other critics point out that the decision to ban soft drinks in school may do little to curb childhood obesity. Alison Kretser, a director for the Grocery Manufacturers of America, said, "We sympathize with cash-strapped public schools. But simply removing certain items from schools does nothing to educate children on the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity."

Chill Out!

Health advocates applaud the decision of the L.A. school board. Margaret G. Wootan, a director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest said, "Schools that are bridging budget gaps by peddling soda and snack foods are doing so at the expense of their students' health."

Oakland school board member Nick Gallo agrees. After his district voted to ban soft drinks, Gallo said, "It came down to what's more important--the health of our children or the dollars."

Fatima Ramirez, a senior at North Hollywood (Calif.) High School, said she welcomes the change. "I think it's good to be healthy and not drink too much soda," Ramirez said.

Should schools ban sales of soft drinks? Explain your answer.