PEOPLE in Barnsley are being urged to go ‘fizz free’ for a month.
For the first time, Fizz Free February is coming to the town and residents are being encouraged to pledge to #gofizzfree and cut down on sugary drinks.
Barnsley Council hopes the campaign will help deliver a healthy message - especially as the town has a higher-than-average number of youngsters suffering tooth extractions due to decay.
Friday February 1 marks the start of Fizz Free February and the council’s public health team is asking people of all ages, but in particular families with young children, to ditch sugary drinks for 28 days.
Going fizz free for all of February can help encourage families to drink less sugary drinks for the rest of the year too.
In Barnsley, 31.2 per cent of ten and 11-year olds are overweight significantly better than the national average of 34.2per cent. However, 2.6 per cent of local children aged between five and nine have had to have teeth removed in hospital, due to tooth decay. The national figure is 0.7per cent.
Coun Jim Andrews, cabinet spokesman for public health, said: “The hard truth about soft drinks is that they are often high in sugar, which is a significant factor in weight gain and dental decay.”
To join in, just pledge to give up fizzy drinks for 28 days and tweet using #gofizzfree. More information is available at the Barnsley Public Health Fizz Free February page: barnsley.gov.uk/fizz-free-february
