The war on … pop? In an attempt to solve the problem of obesity in children, the Canadian soft drink industry has struck a deal with school board officials and will begin to remove all carbonated beverages from Canadian elementary and middle schools. It sounds good on paper, but in reality, it makes absolutely no sense to ban carbonated beverages in elementary schools. There are just as many sugary, non-bubbly alternatives, such as Fruitopia and Nestea within easy reach of children.
The intention of the ban — to help kids stay healthy — seems to have been lost in a political flurry of over-regulation. The answer does not lie in banning certain foods from schools; kids can eat healthier by applying some good old fashioned common sense.
Let’s take a look at how teachers handled the problem of sugary snacks in the classroom 10 or 15 years ago.
Then, kids could buy pop and any other sweet, but harmful, drinks in elementary schools. However, it wasn’t from vending machines, and kids couldn’t get these drinks whenever the students wanted them. Consumption of soft drinks at many schools was reserved for “Pizza Day.” Every so often — usually once a month — the principal would bring in a bunch of pizzas for kids to buy. For bargain-basement prices, a sugary drink could also be part of lunch that day. It was a treat at the end of a busy week.
This is the type of practical thinking school boards need today, because moderation is the key to health. Doctors and dentists consistently tell us not to be afraid of so-called “bad” food, but moderation is the key. Don’t worry about eating those chips and doughnuts, just don’t do it more than once a month.
The same can be said about kids and pop. “Let them drink pop!” but only once a month. If pop is not allowed in schools, kids will get their “fix” elsewhere. Waging a war on pop — similar to the war on drugs — in elementary schools, will not help kids lose weight. After all, schools can’t ban convenience stores from operating down the street.
Kids like pop. If their parents give them money to buy lunch and they want pop, kids will take their money to the corner store and buy it.
This decision will only create a kiddy black market for pop in schools. Remember the big kids — the only ones allowed to cross the street — who bought penny candy at the store and sold it for five cents? Sure, the younger kids were getting ripped off, but the strong arm of the principal can be dodged easily.
So politicians, ban pop all you want from schools, kids will still be able to get it, not unlike a heroin addict can score smack. The unintended results may be surprising. Perhaps all those extra miles of walking to the grocery store for pop every lunch hour will be a great benefit to school children’s cardiovascular health, who knows? One thing is for sure, however, the war on pop will fail.
—Louise Brown