The Palmerston North City Council has gone flat on a proposal to ban fizzy drinks and voted it out today — disappointing the Dental Association who wants restrictions nationwide.
Today, council members met set to decide whether to spread a restriction on sugary sweetened drinks further to council-owned facilities and events.
One councillor pulled out his own bottle of cola at the council meeting while venting frustration with the policy.
“We risk turning Palmerston North into a nana city,” one councillor said.
“Can’t have a slushie but can have a full sugar RTD,” another added.
The proposal would have restricted the sale of sugar sweetened beverages at most council facilities and events including the local Regent Theatre and sports facilities at the Central Energy Trust Arena.
Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith said the council needed to stay in its lane and he agreed with the outcome.
“Yes, we want to promote healthy choices but the key there is choice, and personal choice.
“Personally, I think it was a great result we were overstepping all the policy suggested that we overstep and we heard we heard what residents and the public said and I think we got the right result.”
The proposed policy was about promoting healthier lifestyle choices and combined the council’s approach to smoking, vaping, sun-protection and healthy beverages into one.
But just one councillor was keen on the sugary drink intervention.
“I don’t think its in anyway taking away people’s choice, people can go to the supermarket and buy whatever they want,” Palmerston North City Councillor Karen Naylor said.
It was pointed out however, that he sale ban would have applied not just to fizzy but also to fruit drinks, cordials, iced tea and coffee, energy drinks, sports drinks and even flavoured milk.
Today’s vote for a backtrack on restrictions was welcomed by some local business owners.
Ice cream truck owner Hamish Williams said the result would help reduce costs.
“[It’s] very exciting to see there’s been some common sense here, they’re only 14 councillors and one mayor, they’re not the police.
“I’ve only been able to provide like a sugar zero Coke spider or something where when going to somewhere like Speedway you know the boys love just a standard Coke with ice cream on top now I’ve been able to provide that to them it’s going to be really cool.
“We spend a lot more money on sugar-free slushy liquid.”
Many Palmerston North locals told 1News the decision should be left with parents.
However, the Dental Association expressed disappointment, calling today’s decision a missed opportunity.
“We think any council that wants to display leadership here, we think it’s a great idea,” sugary drinks spokesperson Dr Rob Beaglehole said.
“Councils are an organisation that look after the health and wellbeing of their communities that they serve. And sugary drinks, we know it’s the number one source of sugar in the New Zealand diet for those aged 30 years and under.
“A lot of kids play sports and we don’t think sport should be associated with sugary drinks.”
