Hospital Imposes Ban on Fizzy Drinks

ONE of Scotland’s largest hospitals is to ban sugar-loaded fizzy drinks to encourage patients to drink healthier options.

In the latest move to promote healthier lifestyles, Ninewells Hospital in Dundee has announced plans to prohibit the sale of all sugary drinks from all vending machines, shops and canteens.

Manager Brian Main said that patients and visitors were still allowed to bring such drinks on to the site, but the hospital had a duty to promote healthy choices.

Mr Main said: “We don’t think that as a healthpromoting organisation we should be seen to sell it (sugary drink), promote it or encourage the use of it.”

The ban comes 18 months after a successful trial at Perth Royal Infirmary.

Previously, Mr Main said it would be more difficult to introduce such a policy at Ninewells, not least because of the income fizzy drinks generated.

Two years ago, he revealed that NHS Tayside was paid an annual five-figure sum for its share of profits on vending machines on the Ninewells site alone.

Now health officials believe the public has already made a move away from full-sugar drinks to sugar-free, lowcalorie varieties of soft drinks.

Outlets will be stocked with fruit juices, water and milk as healthier options to the currently more favoured branded fizzy drinks.

It is hoped that people will switch to healthier choices and the canteens, kitchens, cafes and vending machines at Ninewells would not experience a drop in sales.

Leader comment Page 12

(c) 2007 Herald, The; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.