Drink manufacturers have agreed to a world-leading water-only policy for all New Zealand primary and intermediate schools.
The NZ Beverage Council, which represents companies that sell 95 per cent of all juice and non-alcoholic drinks, will also stop selling sugar-sweetened soft drinks and energy drinks in secondary schools.
One of the conference organisers, Dr Simon Thornley, hailed the pledge as "a really significant step in the right direction", going further than other countries.
Beverage Council president Olly Munro said the new industry pledge would still allow the sale of fruit juice and zero-sugar fizzy drinks in secondary schools.
What New Zealand schools currently sell:
4% sell energy drinks
9% sell sugary fizzy drinks
12% sell sugar-free fizzy drinks
35% sell bottled water
38% sell flavoured milk
39% sell fruit juice
