Toronto Considers Ban Of Soda Drink Sale In Sports, Community Centers

Ban Of Soda Drink Sale

The Toronto government management committee voted Thursday to ban the sale of soda and energy drinks in 34 sports arenas and 134 community centers throughout the city. In lieu of those drinks, to be made available are only low-fat milk, soy milk and 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices. The proposal will be submitted to the city council next month. The ban, however, would be phased in and exempt five public golf courses, two ski hills and eight community-run arenas.  According to the proponent of the ban, Councilor Adrian Heaps, a bottle of soda drinks contains 10 teaspoons of sugar. Heaps, a sportsman, wanted to widen the ban to include all city facilities and even include unhealthy food. However, his colleagues disagreed by voting out that proposal. To enforce the measure, beginning November, vending machine contracts would have to ensure that 50 percent of the drinks are healthy for the next two years. By 2012, the proportion of healthy drinks should go up to 75 percent and by 2014 to 100 percent. The Toronto Food Policy Council, in a discussion paper in 1998, pushed for an improvement in the food and agriculture systems in Canada. The council made a 16-point recommendation made up of three stages of key actions, including making nutrition labels compulsory for all kinds of food, except fresh fruits and vegetables.