Sugary drinks to be fizzled out by councils

Councils will be urged to reduce sugary drinks in public facilities and at council-run events by adopting their own voluntary policies.

Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) voted in favour of a remit – designed to take steps to dial back the consumption of sugary drinks nationwide – at its annual meeting in Auckland yesterday.

Aaron Keown said he and most other Christchurch city councillors opposed the sugary drinks’ proposal.

‘‘I think the last thing the people of Christchurch want right now is telling them another thing they can and can’t do ... and to take away their choice to have a soft drink when they want is ... almost weird.’’

Christchurch City Council adopted a Healthy Food Action Plan in May, which supports increasing access to healthy foods but the local authority has not taken a position on sugary drinks.

The sugary drinks’ policy, proposed by Hastings District Council, stated that all councils should model good behaviour, providing an example to other organisations while reducing sugar consumption among those who used council facilities.

In the lead-up to the vote, the Hastings council was asked to develop a policy on sugary drinks and a sugar-free drink haven within its facilities and council-run events.

Although the policies would be voluntary, New Zealand Dental Association spokesman Rob Beaglehole said the move would provide a useful inventory of councils that had adopted policies.

‘‘What the remit was doing was getting LGNZ to come up with some policy statements and templates so the councils that wanted to develop these sugary drinks’ policies would be able to easily.

‘‘It’s another example of organisations showing leadership and understanding sugary drinks are a major health issue.’’

Beaglehole successfully lobbied Nelson Marlborough District Health Board to become the first health board in the country to limit sugary drinks. Other boards followed suit.

Meanwhile, a remit on a controversial cat control policy to regulate cat ownership snuck through, with 51 per cent in favour.

That meant LGNZ would lobby the Government on the importance of implementing the final version of the National Cat Management strategy. Possible measures would include microchipping, making cats wear bells, desexing and curfews.

Meanwhile, LGNZ appointed Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull as its new president, replacing Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule.