As a high school student dealing with pre-diabetes, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of sugary drinks on health. My family history is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by excessive sugar consumption. My uncle, who regularly drank sugary beverages, developed Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM); my grandfather died from kidney complications due to T2DM; and my father constantly struggles to maintain a healthy and consistent diet with the high prevalence of unhealthy food marketing. I must consistently maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercise to manage my pre-diabetes. What is worse is that my experience is not at all unique; over a billion people worldwide suffer from similar health problems.

Given my personal experiences, I strongly advocate for removing sugary drinks from kids’ menus. According to the American Heart Association, the recommended daily sugar maximum intake for children and teens is six teaspoons. And yet, just one regular can of Sprite has 9.5 teaspoons of sugar, which is 150% of the recommended amount for young children. It is for this reason that sugary drinks should not be served on kids’ menus. Giving children such easy access to high-sugar beverages can be dangerous for their long-term health, resulting in problems such as obesity, diabetes, liver problems and many more.

Early intervention and healthy choices for youth are among the most effective ways to lower rates of these health problems. As a society, we need to decide to foster these choices. The easiest way to do so is to remove sugary drinks from kids’ menus and replace them with healthier options, like unsweetened milk or dairy alternatives, sparkling water and decaffeinated teas. Multiple high-profile companies have implemented this policy to good effect. For example, Disney and McDonald’s have both implemented policies in which healthier drinks like water and milk are standard options in kids’ meals. After changing the default drinks on menus to healthy drinks, the companies have witnessed a significant increase in sales for healthy drinks among Disney guests and McDonald’s customers, especially for youth. Families at Disney parks chose healthy default drinks 66% of the time.

The vigilance and maturity that is required to manage obesity, diabetes and liver problems is something that no parent wants for their child. Children should enjoy their childhood without worrying about the complications that arise from high-sugar beverages. Significant health benefits will result from removing sweet drinks from kids’ menus and no significant downsides. It is the most effective and crucial step towards protecting the health of youth and future generations.

Amanda Zou is a high school student who lives in Broomfield.