SCOTTISH teenagers are the most likely in the UK to take a fizzy drink to school, according to a study.
Just more than 20 per cent of Scottish 13- to 16-year-olds said they would choose to have a fizzy drink during the school day, compared to a UK average of 15 per cent.
Pupils in Scotland were also found to be twice as likely to drink energy drinks at school than the UK average (10 per cent compared to five per cent).
Forty-five per cent said they would pick water for a school drink – just below the UK average of 48 per cent, according to research by the Natural Hydration Council (NHC). The organisation, which promotes research and communication about hydration, said guidance on healthy diet and lifestyle was having a limited impact.
It surveyed 2000 children across the UK, including 154 in Scotland. Among respondents in Scotland, 26 per cent said they got their drink from a corner shop or convenience store, above the UK average of 14.2 per cent.
Dr Emma Derbyshire, adviser to the NHC, said: “We must encourage healthy drinking habits alongside healthy eating in order to have a real impact.
“Parents can play a big role as something as small as sending their teenagers off to school with a bottle of water sets the right tone for the rest of the day.”
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