University College Dublin First College To Ban Sale Of Sugary Drinks On Campus

University College Dublin has become the first third-level institution in the country to stop the sale of high-sugar drinks on campus.

The decision followed a seven-week trial to curb the sale of unhealthy sugar-sweetened beverages across the university’s 16 food and drink outlets.

Diet sodas, zero-calorie drinks or 100pc fruit juices will still be sold on campus, according to the college.

“Only drinks identified as containing caloric sugar additives that would be subject to the recently introduced sugar tax have been removed from campus outlets and vending machines,” a statement said.

Some 600 students and UCD staff members were surveyed to see if they had noticed the absence of sugary drinks and, if so, had they changed their drinking habits accordingly.

Checked against sales data from this period, it was found that the majority of people switched to healthier alternatives without complaint. Some 75pc of those who regularly purchased drinks high in sugar failed to notice the absence of these beverages during the seven-week period.

The majority of students said they supported, or at least did not oppose, the permanent removal of sugary drinks from the campus following the trial.

In addition, retailers on campus reported a spike in demand for no or low-sugar drinks, with their uptake increasing by 7pc.

Irish Independent