Sugary Drinks Outlawed

The battle over sugar-filled drinks, which is considered to be the main source of obesity in Western nations, is heating up. Boston's long time mayor, Thomas M. Menino gave out an executive order to remove sugary drinks from all city property, in a bid to reduce the rising obesity rate and try to stem the obesity epidemic.

The Boston Public Health Commission is placing labels on the drinks, besides displaying posters 'Stop Rethink Your Drink. Go On Green.' City departments were given six months to eliminate the sugar loaded beverages in vending machines, cafeterias, concession stands and during city-run meetings.

'Red' drinks include non-diet sodas, sweetened ice teas, and sports drinks. 'Yellow' beverages are diet sodas, low calorie sports drinks and 100% fruit juice. 'Green' drinks are bottled water, low fat milk or unsweetened soy milk.

Cities such as Los Angeles County, San Francisco, San Antonio and New York City have also set rules in order to prohibit or limit the distribution or sale, of unhealthy food.

Canadian beverage companies have to clearly display the calorie count on the front of drink containers. The majority of schools in Canada have imposed a ban on soda pop and sweets.

The removal of soda and unhealthy snacks from vending machines by Boston Public Schools in 2008, is now believed by many, to be an effective way of limiting this type of food. Subsequent data shows that the overall consumption of sugary drinks has decreased significantly.

Up to 10% of total calories in the American diet are attributed to soda and other sugar-filled drinks and are believed to be highest contributors to obesity. According to recent statistics approximately 51% of Latino adults, 49% of white adults and 63% of black adults, who are Boston residents, are thought be overweight or obese.

Statistics that are reflected in many other world-wide communities.
It is believed that 1 in 2 Canadians is overweight and 1 in 4 is obese. In 2001 it was estimated that Canadians consumed 96 litres of soft drinks a year, per person. This consumption had dropped over the past ten years, to an average of 72 litres per person.

"Economists estimate that medical costs for an obese patient are about 42 percent higher per year than for a patient with a healthy weight," Dr. Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, in the city's press release, said.

The estimated figures that obesity costs Canadians an annual $30 billion in health-care costs and lost productivity, are reflected everywhere in the Western world.