Thanda gets the cold shoulder

Even as the FDA and Education Dept squabble, the city firmly believes soft drinks have no place in campus.

Pesticide not the issue

I am happy that the FDA has finally realised the ill effects of colas available in India, but the perspective they are taking in erroneous. They are harping about the pesticides and the preservatives while the drinking water in India contains pesticide. This is because we keep spraying thousands of tonnes of pesticides every year and they seep into ground water and rivers, which are the major source of drinking water.

From birth till death, every Indian consumes pesticides through food and drinks, so it's not such a big deal if colas have pesticide. It's the fault of the government and civic bodies that colas have pesticide because they are the ones who supply pesticide-laced water to cola companies. The preservatives are also not harmful because they are edible.

Colas should be banned for they contain phosphoric acid. This is the substance that gives the tang to the cola. It harms teeth and can cause cancer. Colas also have caffeine that is a highly addictive substance.

About 15 years ago, there was a lot of hue and cry about BVO (Brominated Vegetable Oil) that was used to thicken the drinks and give it a body. BVO was blamed for causing heart ailments and was banned. The government however is turning a blind eye to Ester Gum — an agent used in varnishes — that is being used by the cola companies to the same effect. — NG Wagle/Vile Parle

Wagle is a consumer activist and consulting chemical technologist

Banish them from the schools’ vicinity

Banning soft drinks in schools will hardly be of any consequence. They would still be available in shops across the school. So if they want to wean us off these things they should ban them in the school's vicinity. Also the 'concerned' authorities should target small children so that they understand from a very young age that these things are not good for them. In order to make students aware of the hazards of these drinks, schools should organise frequent seminars. Even if a few students stop drinking aerated drinks due to these seminars, we know that the message has gone home. — Rishit Jogani/Student

Ban cola ads too

Cold drink ads should be banned in the first place and it should be mandatory for these drinks to carry a statutory warning — 'cold drinks are injurious to health', just like cigarette packs do. Since teens tend to brush off any advice given to them, it would be more effective to build awareness at an early age. But, before that, our parents should be the ones to stop us from having things that poison our system. Even if cold drinks are banned, they might soon be back on the shelves much like the plastic bags that were banned post-26/7, but were freely available across the city. Also, there will always be unscrupulous elements that will try to sell the banned drinks for a tidy sum. — Khurshed Mogrelia/Student

Provide healthier alternatives

I am all for aerated drinks being banned from school canteens. If the FDA and the Education Department are at loggerheads over the responsibility, the school authorities should take things in their own hands. After all, they have a responsibility towards their children. But when they ban these cold drinks, the school authorities should provide some alternative beverages in the canteen such as juices. — Aliya Ladhabhoy/Student

Catch 'em young

Teaching young children about the ill effects of these drinks will be easier as they are still in their formative years. They are too young to take the right decisions, and hence as teachers it is our duty to guide them correctly. But even we are not infallible. While we hold dental check-up camps in schools, school canteens serve cold drinks. All this, despite knowing that these drinks are the major cause of tooth decay. — Vicky Presswala/Teacher

Let the kids decide

Banning is not enough. Like soft drinks, even fast food is harmful for all. If you ban something, the child will be even more curious and tempted to try it out. Schools can ban these drinks, but they cannot stop the children from drinking buying these drinks from shops outside the school. Instead, we need to explain to the children why a certain thing is good or bad for them and then let them decide for themselves. — Triloki Nath Tiwari/Teacher

Stop supporting cola-sponsored events

If it has pesticides, you can ban it in the school canteens but how can you ban it in the state? After all, we adults are expected to have a sense of responsibility and decision-making powers and it is the children who need to be directed. However, it is the schools' duty to make its environment such that they discourage children from drinking these things. The school canteen should be stocked with fresh juices instead. Also in an effort to follow this policy strongly, the school should not send its children for competitions organised or sponsored by the aerated drink companies. — Niloufer Daruvala/Teacher