Coca-Cola vending machines have already been abolished in primary schools. From the end of this year, the vending machines will no longer be found in secondary schools. In 2016, the Flemish education umbrella organizations decided that students could only receive non-sugared drinks, such as water and Cola-Zero, at school. There was a general extinction policy, which meant that the schools themselves could still decide on the range of drinks.
But the soft drink giant has now decided to put an end to the vending machines in schools. This will be the case throughout Belgium and Luxembourg, writes La Dernière Heure.
Coca-Cola confirms the measure at Het Nieuwsblad. “We believe it is important to closely follow the social debate on this subject and, where necessary, to respond to evolving expectations through self-regulation,” it sounds. Spokesperson Eva Lefevre emphasizes at De Standaard that it is an own decision that is not influenced by the stricter legislation. “We take society’s expectations seriously,” she says. The exact approach will be agreed with the schools.
Most Flemish schools have not offered soft drinks for years. The most recent measurement, in 2019, showed that 84 percent of secondary schools no longer have soda machines.