Beverage industry supports guidelines

Editor:

The Jan. 20 commentary "5 things we can do," on proposed legislation to improve the health of West Virginians, contained misinformation that deserves clarification for your readers.

First, the beverage industry is concerned about children's health, and despite the author's suggestion, we are indeed supportive of removing full-calorie soft drinks from schools. In fact, in 2006 the beverage industry teamed with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, to develop National School Beverage Guidelines. These guidelines remove full-calorie soft drinks from all schools and provide students with a broad range of lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion beverage choices. In elementary and middle schools, students may choose from water, low-fat and nonfat milk and 100 percent fruit juice. In high school, students' options are expanded to include other low- and mid-calorie beverages including diet soft drinks, light juices and sports drinks.

These guidelines are part of a greater effort to teach children the importance of a balanced diet and exercise, and are currently being implemented in schools across the state and country. Only one year into a three-year implementation, our first progress report already shows a 45 percent reduction in shipments of full-calorie soft drinks to schools.

The bottom line is that the beverage industry is on track in implementing the School Beverage Guidelines. Our industry is clearly investing the energy and resources to cut calories in schools and make a meaningful impact. While we applaud efforts to find new ways to address students' nutrition and oral health, we hope the public will recognize and support the significant voluntary effort by the beverage industry to change the beverage offerings in schools.

The West Virginia beverage industry has taken the extraordinary step of moving beyond current state school nutrition law through implementation of our National School Beverage Guidelines. Thus, any proposed legislation to prohibit soft drinks in schools is not only unnecessary, but lags behind efforts already underway by our industry.

Kevin Keane

Senior vice president, communications

American Beverage Association

Washington, D.C.

Teachers, too, must accept salary level

Editor:

Concerning Debra Wolf's Jan. 13 commentary, she acts as if she were ignorant of her starting salary before being paid the first time. While I endorse more pay for qualified teachers, many people with less income have to pay the same bills she does. She had a choice to make more money and chose not to, and we all have to live with the choices we make.

David Lowdermilk

Editor:

The Jan. 20 commentary "5 things we can do," on proposed legislation to improve the health of West Virginians, contained misinformation that deserves clarification for your readers.

First, the beverage industry is concerned about children's health, and despite the author's suggestion, we are indeed supportive of removing full-calorie soft drinks from schools. In fact, in 2006 the beverage industry teamed with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, to develop National School Beverage Guidelines. These guidelines remove full-calorie soft drinks from all schools and provide students with a broad range of lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion beverage choices. In elementary and middle schools, students may choose from water, low-fat and nonfat milk and 100 percent fruit juice. In high school, students' options are expanded to include other low- and mid-calorie beverages including diet soft drinks, light juices and sports drinks.

These guidelines are part of a greater effort to teach children the importance of a balanced diet and exercise, and are currently being implemented in schools across the state and country. Only one year into a three-year implementation, our first progress report already shows a 45 percent reduction in shipments of full-calorie soft drinks to schools.

The bottom line is that the beverage industry is on track in implementing the School Beverage Guidelines. Our industry is clearly investing the energy and resources to cut calories in schools and make a meaningful impact. While we applaud efforts to find new ways to address students' nutrition and oral health, we hope the public will recognize and support the significant voluntary effort by the beverage industry to change the beverage offerings in schools.

The West Virginia beverage industry has taken the extraordinary step of moving beyond current state school nutrition law through implementation of our National School Beverage Guidelines. Thus, any proposed legislation to prohibit soft drinks in schools is not only unnecessary, but lags behind efforts already underway by our industry.

Kevin Keane

Senior vice president, communications

American Beverage Association

Washington, D.C.

Teachers, too, must accept salary level

Editor:

Concerning Debra Wolf's Jan. 13 commentary, she acts as if she were ignorant of her starting salary before being paid the first time. While I endorse more pay for qualified teachers, many people with less income have to pay the same bills she does. She had a choice to make more money and chose not to, and we all have to live with the choices we make.

David Lowdermilk

Charles Town

Teacher pay seems to be about right

Editor:

In response to Debra Wolf's Jan. 13 commentary about being poorly paid as a teacher in Hampshire County, it's apparent that she teaches English rather than mathematics. She should've been aware of what her expenses were when she took the job, and she should've known what the salary being offered was.

She chose Hampshire County not for the salary but for the proximity to her family. Hampshire County is certainly closer than either Baltimore or Wyoming. Salaries are better in both locations but they also have a downside. What percentage of teachers are assaulted in Hampshire County versus Baltimore? I will agree that teachers here (and elsewhere) are poorly paid, but the pay is reflective of the salaries of other local workers and the available tax base.

As a resident of Maryland, Wolf does not contribute to that tax base. In a county with 16 percent of the residents living below the poverty level and with an average wage per job (in 2003) of $22,791, $28,000 seems to be in line with the economy.

August A. Beyer III

Cedarville

Why is beer sold at family restaurant?

Editor:

On a trip to Chuck E. Cheese over the Christmas break, I noticed beer on tap behind the cashier. Everyone in my party was appalled. Why does every restaurant have to sell beer or alcohol? I cannot even take my children to a baseball game without a drunk near us.

I have no problem with an adult over 21 having a beer or drink. However, I do have an issue with someone having "a couple of beers" then getting in a vehicle and driving down the road. They put everyone on the road in danger, including their own family.

Chuck E. Cheese was one of the last places in town I could take my kids to have some fun without a drunk around us. I have spent my last dollar in Chuck E. Cheese, and I challenge other parents to boycott them until the sale of beer stops.

Jennifer Hudson

Hernshaw