Tahlequah students, district survive without sodas

Tahlequah - Tahlequah Public School students aren't getting any sweet satisfaction from soda pop these days. <br><br>For almost 15 months, they've gone without soft drinks in vending machines.

Sunday, January 11th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tahlequah - Tahlequah Public School students aren't getting any sweet satisfaction from soda pop these days.

For almost 15 months, they've gone without soft drinks in vending machines.

The district says it's helping save the young people from caffeine, tooth decay, obesity and diabetes.

And, the schools are surviving after giving up their one-hundred-thousand-dollar-a-year contract with Coca-Cola. The money paid for field trips and other student activities.

But the National Soft Drink Association says lack of exercise is more to blame for adolescent obesity than pops.

An Oklahoma Senate committee killed a bill last year that would have taken vending machine soft drinks and certain snacks from elementary schools.