School Bans on Sugary Drinks Do Not Lower Total Consumption

A failed policy.

In-school bans of sugary soft drinks are thought to be a key tool for reducing adolescent sugar consumption, but they are not proving effective in reducing overall intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), according to new research published online November 7 in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Overall SSB access and purchasing among teenagers was no better in states that banned only soda (66.6% and 28.9%, respectively) compared with states that had no beverage policy at all (66.6% and 26%, respectively). However, states that banned all sugary drinks in schools had a lower prevalence of both access and purchasing of such beverages while in school compared with states without a ban (prevalence difference for in-school access, −14.9; 95% confidence interval, −23.6 to −6.1; P < .05; and prevalence difference for in-school purchasing, −7.3; 95% confidence interval, −11.0 to −3.5; P < .05).

End it.