Beverages in Schools

We have successfully changed the beverage landscape in schools across the country.

School Beverage Guidelines

We promised America’s parents that we would change the beverage mix in schools, and our companies—along with their school partners—have delivered dramatic and significant results. With the national School Beverage Guidelines, we removed full-calorie sodas from schools and replaced them with a range of lower-calorie, smaller-portion choices. This has been no easy feat, but it is one we are proud of and we know will have meaningful and lasting results.

On Aug. 16, 2012, Dr. Wescott, along with his co-authors, had a peer-reviewed data analysis published in the American Journal of Public Health. The data, which was updated to go through the end of the 2009-2010 school year, shows that industry continues to deliver in schools across America:

• Full-calorie soft drinks have been removed. Shipments of full-calorie soft drinks to schools have declined by 97 percent between 2004, the last comprehensive data available prior to the agreement, and the end of the 2009-2010 school year.
• Calories available from beverages in schools have been cut dramatically. In fact, 90 percent fewer beverage calories were shipped to schools during that time.
• We have successfully changed the beverage landscape in schools across the country. The School Beverage Guidelines provide for a range of lower-calorie, smaller-portion beverage options. As a result, the beverage mix in schools continues to shift to waters, portion-controlled sports drinks, diet drinks and 100 percent juices.

The School Beverage Guidelines are a national standard that is in place and working. We support their adoption as part of the federal regulations for competitive foods in schools.

For complete details on the guidelines visit www.ameribev.org.