Water Supply in Schools

We contend that soft drink consumption is problematic amongst children in Ireland and the UK. Our school surveys have demonstrated that fizzy drinks have become normalised, and that children are drinking far less water. You can see some of the effects of regular soft-drinks consumption by clicking here. Reduced consumption of soft drinks will benefit our children’s long term health. In addition, if your school sells caffeine laden soft drinks, this will have an effect upon behaviour.

We have seen students shift their pattern of consumption away from fizzy drinks when bottled water is made easily available and soft drinks vending machines are removed. We have arranged for schools to sell and vend bottled water at a reduced rate (usually less than half the price of fizzy drinks). Bottled water is seen as "cool" by students, who also appreciate the cheaper cost.

We make the following recommendations with respect to drinks in schools:

There is compelling evidence that regular consumption of soft drinks is associated with:

A number of agencies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics have recommended that sweetened drinks should not be available in schools.