Questions & Answers

What did the ABA announce in 2006 with its School Beverage Guidelines?

On May 3, 2006, we announced that we were working with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association under the leadership of President Clinton and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, to provide School Beverage Guidelines that limit the number of calories available in beverages by providing students with even more low-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion choices. These guidelines built upon the school vending policy adopted by the beverage industry in 2005. The beverage industry applauds the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for the comprehensive approach its Healthy Schools Program takes to school wellness. The program sets meaningful standards for nutrition, physical activity, physical education and staff wellness in our schools. Our industry is proud to be part of that effort.

What are the findings of the final progress report?

We promised America's parents that we would change the beverage mix in schools, and our companies have delivered dramatic and significant results. It's a brand new day in our nation's schools when it comes to beverages. We have slashed beverage calories in schools by 88 percent and shipments of full-calorie soft drinks have declined by 95 percent. These are pretty amazing results, and we thank our school partners for helping us make this change.

Why did you work with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation?

The beverage industry recognizes the importance of ensuring healthy lifestyles for children, which is why the industry worked with the Alliance to develop the School Beverage Guidelines in 2006. This effort builds upon the beverage industry's long-standing tradition of being community leaders.

The Alliance shares our desire for schools to have comprehensive fitness, health and nutrition programs to teach children how to lead healthy lives. The School Beverage Guidelines reinforces with children the importance of balancing calories consumed with calories burned. We believe achieving this balance is the most meaningful way to have an impact on the health and wellness of our children.

The Alliance's comprehensive approach to school wellness pursues this balance as well. The Alliance's Healthy Schools initiative seeks to increase physical activity in schools as well as change the mix of foods sold in schools. And the Alliance provides a strong working relationship between the American Heart Association, William J. Clinton Foundation, American Beverage Association, America's schools and parents.

How did the beverage industry work to implement this policy?

The ABA and the three signatory companies encouraged their bottlers to work with schools and school districts to amend existing contracts to change the product mix to include only beverages outlined in the guidelines. The ABA, with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, made diligent efforts to encourage independent food and beverage distributors and contract operators to adopt this policy within three years as well.

What was the timeline for implementation of the guidelines?

We began immediately after announcing the guidelines in 2006. The memorandum of understanding with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation called for a three-year implementation to be completed by the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year.

How was implementation progress reported?

Under the memorandum of understanding with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the American Beverage Association supported an annual analysis that disclosed the status of this initiative. The ABA has made this information public on its Web site and/or by press release.

These guidelines are voluntary and will no longer be monitored. Will you ensure that bottlers and schools continue to comply with the School Beverage Guidelines?

Yes. The implementation period was three years, but now that we've implemented the guidelines, we are in it for the long haul. This is a permanent change we agreed to make in schools across America because schools are unique environments, and we are committed to being part of the solution to childhood obesity.

Why do the guidelines remove regular soft drinks from schools?

We believe soft drinks are appropriate for children and adults and, like all our beverages, can be part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle when consumed in moderation. It is appropriate for parents to treat their child to a soft drink. And it is perfectly appropriate for teenagers to choose a soft drink as refreshment.

But we recognize the uniqueness of the school environment. We also know that parents have a desire for greater control in the school setting. This initiative was developed in partnership with parents and gives them more control over the beverage choices their children have during school. It's a common sense response to better serve parents and children during school.

We particularly like this relationship because it focuses on calories consumed and calories burned. We need to start doing the hard work of teaching our children how to consume foods and beverages as part of a balanced diet and active lifestyle. And we share the Alliance's desire to get more physical activity into schools and the lives of our students.

By shifting the focus to calories, we hope schools will begin teaching students how to consume foods and beverages as part of a balanced diet and be more active.

Why are low-calorie soft drinks allowed in school under the guidelines?

The School Beverage Guidelines focus on calories and helping to control calorie consumption. Students enjoy variety in their beverage choices and diet soft drinks are an appropriate refreshment for high school students. The fact that these drinks are low-calorie and refreshing helps to reinforce the focus on calories for students as part of maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle.

Why are sports drinks allowed in school under the guidelines?

Sports drinks clearly have a functional place in schools. Studies show that 53% of high school students participate in interscholastic sports before, during and after school, and sports drinks provide a functional benefit necessary for students to add energy and absorb fluids efficiently. This makes sports drinks an effective beverage for prehydrating and rehydrating students active in team sports, recreational activities and rigorous physical education activity. In short, the calories contained in sports drinks, largely through carbohydrates, are needed to fuel working muscles of active students. Furthermore, the guidelines cap calories for sports drinks in schools at 66 calories per 8 ounces.

Why did you agree to limit portion sizes for certain drinks?

Again, we agree with the focus on calories. So with certain caloric drinks that have nutritional or functional value - such as sports drinks, juice and milk - we agree with efforts to keep calorie consumption in check as well.

Limiting calories in schools is a sensible approach that acknowledges our industry's long-standing belief that solutions to obesity must focus on teaching kids to consume a balanced diet and exercise more.