- Hospitals been encouraged to join a voluntary scheme to cut sugary drinks sales
- Two thirds of hospitals have signed up but 91 trusts have still to join the scheme
- They have been warned outright ban will be brought in unless sales reduced
Sugary drinks will be banned from hospital canteens and vending machines if managers fail to cut sales.
Hospitals have been encouraged to join a voluntary scheme whereby they reduce sales of sugary drinks to no more than 10 per cent of all beverages sold.
So far 241 hospital and community trusts have signed up – two thirds – but 91 trusts have yet to do so.
Sugary drinks face being banned from vending machines and canteens unless steps are taken to cut sales
Duncan Selbie said offering healthier food is a positive step towards solving the nation’s obesity problem
They have been warned by NHS England that an outright ban will be introduced later in 2018 if they don’t start steps to reduce sales by March.
Sugary drinks include flavoured water, milkshakes, hot chocolate and coffee with flavoured syrups.
Some 14 high street chains and suppliers with outlets in hospitals have also signed up to the scheme namely WH Smith, Marks & Spencer and Greggs.
Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England – the Government agency for tackling obesity – said: ‘Hospitals should play an important role in preventing obesity, not just treating it.
‘Plans to offer healthier food and restrict less healthy options are a positive step towards tackling the country’s obesity problem.’