School bans all drinks but water from packed lunch boxes
![The headteacher won't allow pupils to have anything else with their food. [Photo: Getty]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/uEnoRTnWw8vp4Vee8aK4fA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media-mbst-pub-ue1.s3.amazonaws.com/creatr-uploaded-images/2019-10/e5e07380-f7ee-11e9-9a7b-229d8186b8e7)
A controversial decision to ban all drinks other than water from pupil’s packed lunch boxes has come under fire.
Parents, who are threatening to “take their children out of the school”, were left furious with St Andrew's Primary School in Bransholme, Kingston upon Hull.
Headteacher, Graham Huckstep, played down the new policy, claiming that the school has only allowed water in classrooms for the past 15 years and is extending this to other areas of the school.
The change has been made to facilitate pupils with allergies and to limit the consumption of sugary drinks.
READ MORE: Just two sugary drinks a day could increase early death by a quarter
Only three out of 600 parents have complained about the new ruling, according to Hull Daily Mail, but the parents are said to be in “uproar” with some considering starting a petition.
Feelings have been escalated by reports that some of the school’s teachers are “smelling” the children’s drinks to ensure they only contain water.
Parents have argued that the school is still serving glasses of milk with school dinner, which contradicts the school’s original comment about respecting children with allergies.
READ MORE: Dentists urging schools to go sugar-free
The new policy will come into effect after October half-term.
One parent said: “People in restaurants aren't told to only drink water because there's an allergy sufferer in the restaurant. What if you're walking past someone eating a Snickers for example? Life can't be stopped for everyone.”
“It's not nice to have a child with allergies but instead of upsetting everyone, and like he says it's life-threatening, he needs to make sure the kids who have these life-threatening allergies are in their own safe area to eat what they want.” Another added.
The headteacher has added that there is a special policy in place for children who can’t drink water for medical reasons, but that they will continue to go ahead with the plan as part of “Healthy Bodies/Healthy Minds” approach.
