Buying a can of fizzy drink or an energy drink in Whittlesea will be more difficult next week, with food outlets and sports clubs ditching sugary beverages.
As part of Children’s Week (October 22-30), the council is asking retailers, schools, sports clubs and community centres to remove sugary drinks from fridges and canteens.
Community wellbeing manager Neville Kurth said some sports clubs and more than 30 retail outlets had already signed up.
“Parents and their children are faced with a barrage of creative marketing and in-store displays promoting and selling sugary drinks and this can make it difficult to make healthy choices,” he said.
“We’re not telling parents what to buy for their kids – we’re simply asking food outlets to allow parents to make choices without the added pressure of ‘pester power’ or ‘in-your-face’ marketing.
“This campaign is all about supporting parents to make a healthy change for their children.”
Last year’s campaign resulted in 55 food outlets, 65 schools and early learning centres and eight sports and leisure centres removing sugary drinks from view.
YMCA venues in Whittlesea found that residents were supportive of outlets reducing the visibility of such drinks during a three-month pilot last summer.
To take part in the campaign, email: health@whittlesea.vic.gov.au
