CRI News Reports:Ban on Carbonated Drinks for Middle School Students

A Beijing middle school attached to Renmin University of China has banned the sale of carbonated drinks in shops and canteens on campus to promote students' health.

Public reactions to this regulation have been mostly positive, with some suggesting that other measures be adopted to improve students' health.

The Beijing Youth Daily reports that many students are content with the new policy. Some students say they know the negative effects of carbonated drinks, and therefore understood the school authorities' concerns. Others say they do not care whether or not they can buy carbonated drinks, since soft drinks are still available on campus.

Most parents approve of the ban, and the paper cites some who suggest that the school also ban high fat, high calorie snacks such as ice cream. Moreover, the paper reports that the school does not entirely forbid students from having carbonated drinks, they just cannot get them on campus.

The paper quotes experts who say that the measure should be widely implemented, because carbonated drinks not only do harm to children's stomachs and bone development, but also cause potential tooth decay.