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California Ban on Soft Drinks in Schools

Many parents are concerned with the nutritional health of their children while they are at school. Since children must make their own nutritional choices while at school, many people, both parents and teachers, feel that it is the responsibility of the school to help them make good choices. Removing temptations like sugary soft drinks and snacks is one approach. In 2001, California enacted a bill that regulates the sale of soft drinks in schools.

  1. Senate Bill No. 19

    • In 2001, Senate Bill No. 19, Chapter 913 was passed and came into effect in 2004. There are several regulations in the bill. Elementary school students may only be sold milk, water or juice that is at least 50 percent juice with no added sweeteners. The same law restricts snacks that may be sold to elementary school students, as well. Middle school students may only be sold carbonated beverages after the last lunch period. While it does not regulate sales of soft drinks in high schools, it does state that high schools and middle schools may participate in a pilot program to regulate all foods and beverages sold outside the federal meal plan, with participating schools receiving reimbursement. In 2007, another law, SB965, came into effect that extended the ban to high schools.

    School District Bans

    • Some California school districts have added their own regulations regarding beverages in schools. In 2004, the San Francisco Unified School District banned soft drink sales on all of its campuses as part of a policy of not offering food items with low nutritional content. The Los Angeles Unified School District also enacted a ban that was effective in 2004 which also restricted beverage sales. The policies of the two schools are similar, with the Los Angeles Unified School District requiring certain nutritional content from approved beverages, like milk.

    Positive Aspects of the Ban

    • Obesity is a major health concern, as it is a preventable cause of death. A 2010 study found that childhood obesity rates in California reached a peak in 2005, and have been in decline since then, although this is not true for all racial groups in the study. This is considered to be an effect of the ban. A study of one school in particular, Aptos Middle School, found other positive results occurring after the ban, including a rise in profits, better behavior after lunch, less litter at school and a rise in test scores.

    Negative Aspects of the Ban

    • While Aptos Middle School reports seeing an increase in profits, this appears to be an unusual phenomenon. Schools receive money for entering exclusive contracts with soft drink companies and generate significant profit from the sales of soft drinks. The Unified Los Angeles School District reported a revenue loss of 14 percent. The ban also does not restrict students from bringing their own soft drinks to school. In addition, bans on soft drinks are often passed in response to scientific studies. However, there is little evidence that shows a definite causality between consuming soft drinks and obesity, and some studies show no relationship between the two.

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