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:
- Introducing an icon on drinks indicating, in teaspoons, the amount of sugar in each drink.
- Independent monitoring and evaluation of food marketing, with an emphasis on marketing that influences children.
- Urging the government to adopt WHO limit guidelines on sugar.
- 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’.
- Working with schools and the Ministry of Education to introduce ‘water only’ policies.
- Introducing local council ‘water only’ policies at council facilities and events.
- Introduction of a ‘sugary drinks’ tax in line with WHO recommendations.
