There's little debate over underage drinking. It's aggressively addressed at many local schools.
But what about the other kind of drinking?
Sacred Heart-Griffin High School junior Kim Orlando said she enjoys sugary drinks at coffee shops at least once every two weeks, and drinks a diet soda every day.
Her school has soda available in a fountain and in vending machines during lunchtime, but she usually passes because it's a bit pricey.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report in June stating soda is directly linked to the high obesity rate in children. And beverages such as soda and other drinks sweetened by sugar - while often a source of water - have poor nutritional value.
Those drinks, the report said, "are the largest source of added sugars in the diet of U.S. youths, and the increased caloric intake resulting from these beverages is one factor contributing to the prevalence of obesity among adolescents in the United States."
The Illinois Legislature decided this spring to ban food containing trans fats from being sold in restaurants, and in snacks sold in school vending machines. Now, schools are looking at their policies on students' health when it comes to breakfast and lunchtime.
Laws and policies
As the coordinator of athletics, physical education and health, Rick Sanders revises Springfield District 186 wellness policies and devises ways to make students healthier during the time they are under the district's care.
But one area that Sanders and the district have not yet addressed is sugary beverages, though the food program prohibits the sale of them during lunch and breakfast.
According to a 2010 survey, almost one in four American teens had consumed at least one full-calorie soda in the week before the survey was done. Teens are also drinking energy drinks, sugary coffee and juice drinks and sports drinks, with boys more likely than girls to drink them. (See more statistics below.)
Illinois has banned the sale of vending machine items, soda and candy in schools with students in kindergarten through eighth grade. High schools, however, often have sugary drinks available - perhaps not in the cafeteria, but elsewhere in the building.
"We can't sell any soft drinks (at the middle and elementary schools). Years ago, you could sell junk food and candy. Now that's not done," Sanders said.
"That doesn't affect the high school. Change is going to be slow, and we got to start with younger kids."
Sanders said he and others on his team to establish district wellness policies have examined, but not formally addressed, the sale of soda in vending machines.
Nalo Mitchell, spokesman of District 186, said by federal law the district cannot have vending machines in the cafeteria unless they contain water and 100 percent juice.
"The vending machines that (sell) carbonated drinks are not located in the cafeteria. They are in the commons area at all three of our high schools," Mitchell said.
Mitchell also said Southeast High School keeps the machines on timers, so they are only on at certain times of the day.
Elementary schools only have vending machines in the teachers' lounges, Mitchell said. And middle schools' vending machines are turned off during the day.
Chatham and Rochester have similar wellness policies.
One battle, Sanders said, is teaching students that while they may think they want candy and sugary sweets, fresh fruits and vegetables may be just as satisfying. However, many students are not used to eating food that isn't canned or packaged.
"Many times, the students have a desire to have foods that are palatable and are sugary and sweet, but also many times they haven't been exposed to fresh fruit and fresh vegetables," Sanders said.
Molly Beck can be reached at 788-1526.
Calorie count
Calories and sugar content for popular drinks (16 ounces):
COFFEE
SODA
SPORTS/ENERGY DRINKS
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Teens and sugary drinks
According to the National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Study taken in 2010, a significant percentage of American teens had consumed sugary drinks at least once a day sometime over the previous week, with almost 25 percent drinking a full-calorie soda:
Soda Sports drink Other sugar-sweetened beverages
Total: 24.3 16.1 16.9
Male: 28.4 21.1 17.6
Female: 20.3 11.1 16.3
"Other" beverages include lemonade and other juices, sweet tea, flavored milk, sweetened coffee, etc.
SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Photo: Ted Schurter/The State Journal-Register -- Some drinks pack a lot of sugar into a single serving.
