Originally published August 20 2005
Soft drink companies turn attention to soda bans in schools
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Since California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger established a statewide ban on soft drink sales in elementary and middle schools and was considering extending that ban to high schools, Coca Cola, Pepsi and other big names in the soft drink industry were expected to vote on establishing a voluntary nationwide ban of the drinks in elementary and middle schools and restricting sales in high schools.
Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't your garden-variety politician: A free-market conservative and social moderate, the little Austrian boy who pumped his way to the top still remembers his sickly childhood and is determined to safeguard the fitness of Golden State kids--even if it takes regulations.
Schwarzenegger (R.-Calif.) is urging legislation to encourage healthier food and drinks in schools, including a bill to extend the statewide ban on sugary libations from lower grades to high schools.
In a news conference, the massive Teuton declared, "This legislation is absolutely critical, not only for bringing more healthy food into our schools, but also because California is facing an obesity epidemic."
Bob Achermann, a lobbyist for the California-Nevada Soft Drink Association, said his group would combat expanding the soda ban to high schools, arguing that it wouldn't affect teens anyway: "They can bring them to school, they can get them after school," The Associated Press quoted Achermann as saying.
Good thing it's not a debate about tobacco, one supposes.
But on Wednesday, some in the beverage industry seemed to doubt their own party line.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Coca-Cola (nyse: KO - news - people), PepsiCo (nyse: PEP - news - people) and other key purveyors of the bubbly are eyeing a voluntary nationwide ban on carbonated soft drinks in elementary and middle schools, and restrictions on sales in high schools.
Industry leaders are expected to vote on the issue this week during a conference call of the American Beverage Association's board, said the Journal-Constitution.
Representatives from the ABA and the cola makers declined to comment on specifics, but Coke spokesman Dan Schafer said the Atlanta-based company "would give serious consideration to any industry proposal."
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