And America’s beverage industry is doing its part to improve the health and wellness of today’s kids. In 2006, the industry developed national School Beverage Guidelines. Under these guidelines, full-calorie soft drinks are being removed from schools. The guidelines provide for only bottled water, low-fat and non-fat milk and 100 percent juice in elementary and middle schools, with the addition of diet sodas, low-calorie teas and reduced-portion sports drinks in high schools. Nearly 80 percent of America’s schools under contract with beverage companies are in compliance with the guidelines, and we are proud of the positive impact they are having on children’s lives.

This Fourth of July weekend, however, brings focus to the folly of taxing foods and beverages Americans enjoy every day, especially during holiday gatherings. Some policy-makers are considering a federal tax on soft drinks, which could be as high as 20 percent. Such a regressive and discriminatory tax would further squeeze hard-working families struggling through a recession and impact Independence Day celebrations for years to come.

The beverage industry is supportive of efforts to reform our nation’s health care system, but a tax on soft drinks would not make a dent in that public policy effort and would do real damage to middle-class families.

The spirit of America is what makes this country great, and the beverage industry is proud to serve her. Happy 4th of July!

Sports drinks - like Gatorade, Powerade, Accelerade, Capri SUN Sport and All Sport, among others - are oftentimes associated with physical activity and athletic competition. In fact, these drinks were originally developed so that athletes could maintain a high performance level through a long workout or game. Through experience, you probably know that sports drinks help you to feel refreshed and reenergized. But how? Is it magic? What is different about sports drinks?

When you exercise, you lose water, electrolytes (such as potassium and sodium) and carbohydrates through the energy you use and through sweat. Sports drinks help replace these substances. While sports drinks may have been designed for athletes, you certainly don’t need to be at football two-a-days or volleyball practice to consume these tasty beverages. They can be the perfect beverage after a rigorous work-out or an afternoon hike with your kids. With so many delicious varieties, you could switch up your sports drink flavor with each new activity! How about a lemon-lime after rollerblading, or a fruit punch after that strenuous walk while bargain-hunting? Grab a grape-flavored sports drink for ultimate Frisbee. Enjoy your sports drink combos- we guarantee there are plenty of options to choose from!

And what better way to celebrate than with a delicious ice cream float. At ABA our products are the perfect pairing for any ice cream flavor. Just add a scoop (or two…) of ice cream into a glass and then add your carbonated drink of choice. From the traditional Root Beer Float to a Sherbert Cooler, with so many ice cream flavors and beverages to choose from the combinations are endless.

So, as you are look for ways to cool down this summer - whether sipping through a straw or savoring every bite with a spoon - get creative. Mix and match to create your own delicious, refreshing ice cream soda concoction. And most importantly - enjoy! We here at ABA sure will as we enjoy our ice cream social!

At Sip & Savor, we’ve shared a great deal of information about the many products ABA member companies make to quench the collective thirst of our diverse population. In the summer months these beverages become particularly important as consumers get out and get active in some truly hot spots — beaches, pools, parks and more. In order to keep our pets happy and healthy, we must make sure they are getting the proper amount of liquids they need, too.

Whether they are lying around soaking in the sun or doing the doggy paddle at the local lake, our canine companions don’t always have access to the garden hose. One way to make sure they have access to liquids is to choose from the number of portable water dishes available, most of which fit right in your pocket when you’re out on the go. Just bring one along with a bottle of water for yourself and your pooch, and you’re all set. If your puppy is a true connoisseur, however, you may want to check out this recent Baltimore Sun blog featuring new bottled waters formulated especially for dogs. And if your dog likes chicken, beef, liver and lamb (what dog doesn’t!), note that there are flavored waters to appeal to those unique tastes as well. Often fortified with essential nutrients, flavored waters can provide an alternative means for hydrating your dog and administering vitamins at the same time.

So however you - and your pets - choose to keep cool and hydrated this summer, just remember that there are a number of options available to help you do so. ABA member companies are constantly working to quench your thirst. Enjoy!

Because so many varieties of produce reach their peak during the summer months, it’s the perfect season to experiment with new and exotic fruits and veggies-or to rely on some of your favorites from childhood. During summertime, many cities have farmers markets which are a great way to find the freshest produce and support local agriculture. Walking through a local farmers market is a fun way to get some exercise and fresh air while also spending a pleasant afternoon with the entire family! And if farmers markets are not an option in your area, why not try growing your own fruits and vegetables? Whether you live in a city apartment or a country cottage, there are plenty of options that you can cultivate on a windowsill or a patch of land.

But it’s also important to remember that there are other ways to “squeeze” in your recommended fruit and vegetable servings. In fact, here at the ABA, we are proud to have member companies that make a variety of fruit and vegetable juices which are both wholesome and refreshing. Juices are not only delicious, thirst-quenching beverages, but are also an easy way to get a serving of fruit and vegetables at home or on-the-go. Our members are constantly innovating with new flavor combinations of these essential fruits and vegetables that can satisfy even the choosiest palette — like that of your three-year-old son Max, who only eats mac-n’-cheese.

As parents, we want to teach our kids how to incorporate fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains, dairy and lean protein, into their diets. Teaching proper nutrition and encouraging regular physical activity are important steps in making sure our children have the necessary tools to lead balanced, healthy lifestyles. So this afternoon, slice up an orange — or pour a tall glass of orange juice — and celebrate “Fruit and Vegetable Month” with your family. We know we will.

At the height of their careers, all three of these incredible individuals represented the best of what Americana has to offer: creativity, inspiration, excitement and just plain old fun.

“The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson,” which ran for 30 plus years, was a daily fixture for millions of Americans who made it a tradition to tune in to see Johnny Carson and co-host Ed McMahon. Few could forget Johnny and Ed’s antics, and, of course, one of the most famous lines in television history, “Here’s Johnny!”

Farrah Fawcett will always be remembered for her role on the hit television show “Charlie’s Angels“. She and her co-stars truly represented, and to some extent created, the style and sensation of the 1970s. Today’s generation of girls (and let’s be honest… sometimes grown women, too) are just as likely to dress up as Charlie’s Angels as they were decades ago, when the show originally ran.

Since his early years in the Jackson 5 to his reign as the “King of Pop,” Michael Jackson has entertained and inspired Americans with his truly unique style of music and dance. While some will remember the controversy which surrounded much of his adult life, we are sure that Michael Jackson’s musical talent will be remembered and appreciated for generations to come.

At the ABA, we consider our brands to be American icons, as well. Our member companies are American-owned businesses whose products are enjoyed by millions and are easily recognizable both at home and abroad. Like Ed, Farrah and Michael, few things represent Americana better than a cookout with hamburgers, hot dogs, and an ice cold soda pop. Or, for that matter, a soda and a hotdog at a baseball game.

So today, on behalf of an iconic industry, ABA would like to make a toast to three of our most beloved pop culture figures. Ed, Farrah and Michael have inspired generations of Americans, and they will be sorely missed.

We’re always happy to see young entrepreneurs achieve success in this dynamic industry. Today’s story is of two young Wisconsin girls who founded “Haley & Annabelle’s Vanilla Root Beer” just two years ago to save money for college and raise money for charity.

Since that time, these enterprising young women have had their root beer placed in Wisconsin “Soup Market” stores. We first learned of their endeavor when it was covered by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2008, and we were pleased to read a follow-up story this Memorial Day.

The girls are still hard at work, and, with the help of their dad, have sold over 10,000 cases of their root beer. And 25 cents of every bottle goes to the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, where Haley had surgery as an infant. “It’s always good to give back,” Dave Jurena, the girls’ father, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “This helps the girls realize you have to support the people who support you.”

The girls say their concoction makes a great root beer float, but we especially like Haley’s simple endorsement: “It tastes good. It’s for a good cause. And it tastes good.”

We believe our industry is providing one of those solutions with the national School Beverage Guidelines - which dramatically cut calories available in schools by changing the beverages sold there.

In fact, we think Congress should make these guidelines the law of the land as part of a broader package of what foods and beverages can be sold in schools.

Some members of Congress, along with some advocacy groups, want a new federal standard on school nutrition. Our industry supports this goal and has worked with congressional leaders to achieve it. That’s why we continue to put our model goals out there as a cornerstone for such legislation.

Our companies recognize that it must be part of the solution and that schools offer a unique educational setting. Schools, after all, are where our students are learning one of the most important equations outside of math class: how to balance calories consumed with calories burned. It’s a rather simple equation that is the core to maintaining one’s weight. Achieving that equation, however, isn’t so simple as we all know. It’s complicated.

That’s why our industry is doing its part by implementing the national School Beverage Guidelines. The guidelines are based on calories. We’re changing the beverage mix dramatically in schools across America to reinforce the balanced calories equation being taught in the health and nutrition classrooms.

In short, the School Beverage Guidelines cap calories on beverages, reduce portion sizes and provide for more low-calorie, nutritious options. And, our industry is removing all full-calorie soft drinks from schools. We developed these guidelines with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation – a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation.

So far, we have nearly 80 percent of schools under contract with our companies in compliance with the guidelines and we’ve cut calories from beverages in schools by 58 percent. Pretty strong progress in a short amount of time.

This really isn’t meant to toot our own horn too much; but these are important facts to consider in addressing school nutrition. Our industry stepped up to do something substantial about what is sold in our schools. We did so with strong partners. We’re delivering on our commitment. And it’s having an impact. Parents, doctors and other health professionals tell us repeatedly, in surveys and in person, that our guidelines strike the right balance.

So if lawmakers are looking to create a new school nutrition standard, they should use our School Beverage Guidelines as the foundation for a broader set of rules on what foods and beverages can be sold in our schools. (And they shouldn’t forget about the other side of the equation and also improve physical activity in our schools.)

Our industry knows it must be part of the solution on school nutrition. It’s why we’re taking the tough steps to lead on this issue.

This year marks the seventh annual National Iced Tea Month, which recognizes the beverage that was created in America nearly a century ago. How did iced tea come to be? During the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, folks just weren’t interested in drinking hot tea. So an English tea merchant named Richard Blechynden added ice and…voila, a new beverage was invented.

Iced teas have come a long way since then. Of course, many of us still enjoy making good old-fashioned sun tea. But since the invention of iced tea, our lives have become slightly more hectic. Many of us now lack the time to make sun tea - let alone sit and enjoy a cool glass of it on the front porch. But not to worry. There are many ready-to-drink teas available today. And, depending on processing, ready-to-drink (or RTD) teas may offer similar health benefits to brewed teas. If you want to learn more about RTD teas, check out the American Beverage Association’s products issue site. You can learn about the history of this category, view a sample nutrition facts panel for a RTD tea and more.

So whether your favorite tea is Crystal Light, GOLD PEAK, Honest Tea, Lipton BRISK, Nestea, Snapple or another brand…..find some time this month to kick back, relax and savor its refreshing flavor.

Whether your Dad is a baseball guy, a fishing guy - or even if the most athletic thing he’s done is read you those books when you were little - take the time to tell him how much he means to you Sunday. Encourage him to keep up his doctor’s appointments - they’re important. Then enjoy one of those non-alcoholic treats you used to share when you were a kid.

Happy Father’s Day!