As part of campaign against obesity, sugary drinks like Coca Cola will from today no longer be sold at New Zealand hospitals.
Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
While a number of district health boards (DHBs) already have similar policies in place, the directive handed down from the Ministry of Health means it is now a blanket ban.
Researcher from the University of Auckland and founder of FIZZ (Fighting Sugar in Softdrinks) Gerhard Sundborn, said soft drinks had no place in institutions that were supposed to repair and enhance health.
He said people's views on sugar and obesity were changing.
"I think the public, as well as the ministry of health, see that doing nothing around this issue, it's not an option anymore, something needs to be done about it."
Mr Sundborn said he hoped other sectors such as education would take note and follow suit.