5. Objectives
1. To reduce the risk of harm associated with the consumption of sweet drinks by children in Vanuatu.
2. To present a message to the community that the consumption of sweet drinks is an unhealthy behaviour.
3. To provide leadership to the community in reducing the consumption of sweet drinks, promoting good nutrition, and providing a healthy environment.
6. Definitions
Sweet drinks are defined in this policy as drinks which contain sugar, sweetener or flavouring and have low nutritional value. This includes carbonated or ‘fizzy’ drinks, cordials, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, fruit juices, sugarcane juice, flavoured milks and drinks with added sugar
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8. Strategies and Procedures
1. Sweet drinks are prohibited at schools and kindergartens throughout Vanuatu. This includes:
a) drinks sold at schools and kindergartens
b) drinks provided for free at schools and kindergartens (e.g. class party, fundraiser)
c) drinks brought to schools and kindergartens by students, their family, staff or the community.
2. Unflavoured water, fresh coconut water and unflavoured milk are allowed, encouraged and promoted at schools and kindergartens, not prohibited by the Sweet Drinks Policy. These drinks are high in nutritional value.
3. Staff and those that live on school grounds (e.g. boarding school students) are also permitted to consume hot water with milk, tea, leaves and coffee. Staff and students are to limit or avoid adding sugar to these beverages.
4. The enforcement of the Sweet Drinks Policy will be the responsibility of school and kindergarten staff. This is as per the Ministry of Education Head Teachers Manual, whereby staff members are responsible for students’ health. Each school is required to identify rules for enforcing the policy internally (e.g. school staff is to confiscate prohibited drinks).
5. The monitoring and enforcement of a school or kindergarten’s compliance with the Sweet Drinks Policy will be the responsibility of staff of the Ministry of Education, each Provincial Education Office, Zone Curriculum Advisors, and School Improvement Officers who are required to:
5.1. Ensure that school and kindergarten staff members are informed of the Policy and their responsibility to enforce it through communication and awareness raising.
5.2. Ensure that all Principals have internal rules for enforcing the Policy.
5.3. On visits to schools and kindergartens, observe compliance (e.g. Are sweet drinks being consumed here?).
5.4. If non-compliance is observed, provide the Principal with a warning letter or email which includes a reminder of the Policy.
5.5. If non-compliance is observed following the warning, report the school or kindergarten to the Ministry of Education’s School Health Officer who will take further, considered action.
6. ICT materials developed for communicating the policy are to be distributed or displayed appropriately to inform school and kindergarten staff, food service providers, students, their families and the school and kindergarten community of the components and rationale for the Sweet Drinks Policy.