Dental Association and Hapai Te Hauora call on Education Minister to back ‘water only’ schools

Since last June, NZDA dentists have been supporting schools to become ‘water only’.

Hāpai Te Hauora and 12 other public health groups are backing a NZDA-led 7-point Consensus Statement on Sugary Drinks.

The seven actions are:

1. Introducing an icon on drinks indicating, in teaspoons, the amount of sugar in each drink.
2. Independent monitoring and evaluation of food marketing, with an emphasis on marketing that influences children.
3. Urging the government to adopt WHO limit guidelines on sugar.
4. Encouraging public to switch to water by; introducing warning labels highlighting sugary drinks as risk factors for obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay, and a nationwide social marketing campaigns such as ‘Switch to Water’.
5. Working with schools and the Ministry of Education to introduce ‘water only’ policies.
6. Introducing local council ‘water only’ policies at council facilities and events.
7. Introduction of a ‘sugary drinks’ tax in line with WHO recommendations.