Is it time to restrict the sale of softdrinks to children?

The evidence of the role of sugary sweetened drinks, including soft drinks, cordials, energy drinks, fruit drinks, vitamin water and sports drinks, and the risk of excessive body weight in both children and adults is mounting. (1) The prevalence of overweight and obesity similarly continues to rise, with 25% of children and 60% of adults overweight or obese. (1) Of even more concern, this figure is predicted to rise to 85% of men and 75% of women by 2025. (1)

Given this link and the serious complications of obesity to personal health and wellbeing, as well as the burden it places on the healthcare and economical systems, it’s time to get serious about tackling obesity.

The link between Sugary Sweetened Drinks and Obesity

The contribution of sugary sweetened drinks to obesity is a direct result of the ‘empty’ energy these drinks provide. The added sugars of these beverages are rapidly absorbed and provide excess energy which leads to weight gain, without providing any other nutrients. (1) Further to weight gain, sugary sweetened drinks are associated with an increased risk of dental carriers and reduced bone strength, particularly in children. (1)

The scope of the problem

The cost of obesity to Australia’s health system is $37.7 – $56.6 billion and like the prevalence of obesity this figure is predicted to rise. (1) The effects of dental carriers further cost Australia $6.1 billion in 2007-8 and accounted for 6.2% of health care expenditure. (1)

According to the Victorian Child’s Health Study (2008), 40 – 65% of children (5 – 16 years) are drinking more than 250ml of soft drink a day, which provides 27.5g of sugar, over 400 kJ of energy a cup, and contributes between 4.6 – 7.6% of daily energy intake. (1, 3, 4)

Drastic Times call for drastic measures

Given the extent of this problem it seems clear that action must be taken, but where does the responsibility for taking action lay?

Is it reasonable to expect the government to take control of the situation and impose action such as an 18+ age restriction on the consumption of sugary sweetened drinks? Similar restrictions around alcohol and tobacco are widespread, although, despite what you may have heard, sugar is non-toxic and as such an 18+ restriction may be a bit extreme.

Alternatively greater regulation around these drinks could be within the jurisdiction of Food Standards Australia New Zealand, who is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of our food system. Perhaps a prudent warming and labelling system would be received more agreeably, or simply setting limits around serving sizes and packaging would be effective. Recently in New York action to limit the sizes of sugary sweeten drinks sold was overturned by a Judge and the initiative labelled arbitrary despite its potential to impact the consumption of such drinks. (5)

With governments reluctant to implement such regulations to reduce the consumption of sugary sweetened drinks should we be looking to the manufactures to change their ways or simply taking greater responsibility as consumers?

A range of zero kilojoule soft drinks on the market suggests that the soft drink industry is receptive to product reformulation and have further launched a new generation of “semi” sugary sweetened drinks which contains a combination of artificial sweeteners and sugar. (6) This style “sugar reduced” product is set to increase in the Australian market during 2013, which may somewhat reflect a lack of consumer appeal for the zero kilojoule products.

Perhaps greater consumer education around switching to these reduced sugar products or limiting consumption of sugary sweetened drinks altogether is needed.

Maybe we could negate all this political activism and simply take the initiative as parents not to give children soft drinks, cordials, energy drinks, fruit drinks, vitamin water and sports drinks.

Water should be the drink of choice for both children and adults, with age appropriate milk (reduced fat varieties are not suitable under the age of 2) the next best option. Interestingly the effects on weight have not been seen with flavoured milk products, which further to having no influence on weight gain, improve the overall nutrient status. (1, 7)

It is important as parents to role model appropriate food behaviours and teach our child not good nutrition and moderation but also to enjoy food and the experience of eating wholesome nourishing produce.

Is it time to restrict the sale of softdrinks to children?

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225 Comments

- - mom94125 said
  - 04 Jan 2015
    11:09 pm
moderation and self control! i think that we need more freedom, not less. this is a silly notion.
- mom94125 replied
  
  10 May 2015 , 1:18 pm
  A parent should limit the intake for the child
- - caramello said
  - 31 Aug 2014
    4:01 pm
my son won’t touch any soft drinks. he loves water.

- - Threelos said
  - 20 Aug 2014
    1:05 pm
I think outlawing softdrink for under 18s is pretty ridiculous and would just have the effect of criminalising kids! There needs to be much better general education and support for families trying to help their kids develop healthy eating habits.

Sometimes soft drink (even coke!) is sold at fundraising activities at my kids’ primary school. I was shocked to see Kindergarten kids knocking back cans of coke between classes! Institutions like schools should take more responsibility. And companies like Coke and Pepsi should have their capacity to advertise restricted, and should be forced to make substantial financial contributions to public health initiatives.

- - ginoula5 said
  - 12 Aug 2014
    2:26 pm
Ultimately up to the parents to teach kids not to buy these kind of things, you can’t be with them 24/7.

- - neddie said
  - 09 Aug 2014
    12:24 am
Good article and good advice there! Thank You.

- - kanook said
  - 26 Jul 2014
    8:44 pm
We have a low sugar and absolutely no fast food or soft drink policy in our house but it doesn’t stop me from being overweight. I don’t think you can say it’s one thing or another that leads to obesity. It’s a combination of things and addressing only one aspect of a very complex problem is only going to provide a portion of a solution.

Having said that I think that soft drinks are garbage juice in a can and would love to see them gone from their upstanding and domineering position on our shelves. AND..while they are still making a packet out of them…I think Coca-Cola Amatil and the likes should be held 100% accountable for the disgraceful amount of rubbish branded with their trademarks floating around in our oceans and creeks. They say it’s the consumers responsibility…but I say if it’s got your name on it…it’s yours.

- - not_amanda said
  - 09 Jul 2014
    3:48 pm
I think one of the last paragraphs of this article sum it up – it’s up to parents to control what our children eat or drink through using our parental prerogative to just refuse to give them bad stuff, and educate them about why they shouldn’t have it.

- - no1ladydj said
  - 31 May 2014
    12:29 pm
As parents are the ones who give their children money, and are also the ones doing the weekly grocery shop, it’s really up to parents to place restrictions on food & drinks that they don’t want their children to have.

- - christial said
  - 30 May 2014
    10:22 pm
I think its up to the parents to educate about soft drinks but I do believe energy drinks should be restricted.

- - mom57522 said
  - 30 May 2014
    3:11 pm
I think it’s up to the parents to educate kids about good food choices.

- - catgrrl3 said
  - 22 May 2014
    8:37 pm
I do think that it is best now adays to restrict the amount of sugar everyone takes

- - mom57522 said
  - 22 May 2014
    6:50 pm
Water is the number one drink in our house.

- - kazh said
  - 15 May 2014
    11:02 am
This is not the place of the government. I would be insulted if a politician felt it necessary to tell me how to raise my kids. It comes down to common sense. Kids don’t need soft drink (who does?) and my kids have never tasted the stuff. They might get a fruit juice if we’re at a restaurant and there’s a free drink with the kids meal, otherwise they drink water and milk. Children who have never had soft drink are not going to feel deprived when you don’t give it to them. It’s not an issue.

- - scottie said
  - 05 May 2014
    12:31 pm
I am not seeing a lot of sugar reduced options yet but my preference would be not to have the artificial sweetener in them

- - kylesnova said
  - 19 Apr 2014
    1:43 pm
A friends’ son loves fizzy drink and he needed so many teeth out at quite a young age that it had to be done in hospital under general anaesthetic. Not good at all.

- - priyachirag said
  - 17 Apr 2014
    9:55 am
Interesting debate. I suppose desperate situations call for drastic measures.

- - jenny9761 said
  - 16 Mar 2014
    1:31 pm
It is a good debate, some kids do drink too much soft drink but it is going overboard to ban it for under 18’s

- - someonesmother said
  - 10 Mar 2014
    11:39 pm
Wonderful advice, a very informative article.

- - linda197 said
  - 28 Feb 2014
    6:46 pm
I can still remember when i was younger the special occasions where soft drink would come out (it was a real treat)! We were aloud to drink as much water and milk (including flavoured good old quicks and milo) as we wanted.
Thankfully my little one has no interest in other drinks yet
Good article thank you

- - kafer said
  - 18 Feb 2014
    2:24 pm
Its up to us as parents to control what comes in the home. We need to be responsible.