By Healthcare Facilities Today

Hospital visitors craving a soft drink won't find any in Nelson and Marlborough, New Zealand, according to an article on the NZ City website.

The Nelson Marlborough District Health Board has banned sugar-sweetened drinks from being sold at Nelson Hospital and Blenheim's Wairau Hospital.

Soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks and flavored milk will no longer be sold at the hospitals' cafes and the Nelson Hospital shop, the article said.

"The DHB and hospitals are role models for the community when it comes to healthy food policies and practices," chief executive Chris Fleming said in the article. "One way to achieve this is to provide an environment that makes the healthy choice the easy choice."

The change will go into effect on March 1 with full compliance expected on March 31, the article said.

According to Fleming, sugary drinks were the leading source of sugar for children and the leading risk factor for obesity, type two diabetes and tooth decay.

Read the article.