No clean drinking water in schools promoting sugary drinks 

Lack of proper drinking water but considerable exposure of beverage industry-sponsored food and drink kiosks and advertisements are forcing adolescent students to purchase sugar-sweetened beverages, consuming which may raise the risk of developing obesity and diabetes, a study has found.

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What Researchers say?

• The presence of the sugar-sweetened beverage industry in schools.
• Suggests that the beverage industry is capitalising on countries that have fewer enforced regulations.
• To protect youth to access a key subgroup of impressionable consumers, the researchers said.
• Schools represent an important area of influence for adolescents.
• With limited access to clean drinking water and the very visible presence of the beverage industry in schools.
• It’s clear that being in an environment that encourages students to purchase unhealthy sugar-sweetened beverages has an impact on behaviour.
• For the study, the team focussed on high schools and found that students consume soft drinks an average of 2.5 days each school week.

What study suggests?

• The study suggests that the increased level of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage could be fuelling the obesity epidemic in most developing countries.
• Energy-dense beverages or the sugar-sweetened and carbonated beverages.
• In addition,are mostly imported into developing countries via emerging markets and food franchises.
• These markets and food franchises have developed strategies.
• To increase the availability, affordability and acceptability of these beverages in developing countries.
• As such, most of these beverages become popular due to their convenience and lower cost per unit of energy.
• When compared with original nutrient-dense beverages like dairy, fruit and vegetable juices.
• An initial step to addressing these problems is enforcing policies that limit the power the sugar-sweetened beverage industry has in schools.
• While providing students with healthy alternatives to sugar-laden, high calorie drinks,Expert added.