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Though the caffeine and sugar in Coca-cola are not the only factors leading to obesity in children, most local primary and middle schools, in consideration of the health of their students, still ban carbonated soft-drinks from being sold on-campus.
A newly-passed Beverage Association-ban on selling Coca-cola on the campuses of American primary schools has aroused discussion in the city.
Local primary and middle schools don't admit vending machines, and drinking water is specially supplied on campus.
However, as long as the school canteen is licensed to sell food and beverages by the relevant government department, school officials cannot interfere too much in the specifics of its business.
Wang Weihang, the principal of the Eastern branch of the Shanghai Experimental School, expressed his helplessness when it comes to perfecting the food habits of his students, as the soft drinks are in reality their favorite.
However Zhao Yali, the secretary-general of the China Beverage Industry Association, considered that lack of exercise was what contributed most to obesity in children, and not their drinking of too much Coca cola.
(Shanghai Daily August 24, 2005)
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