A STORM is brewing over suggestions that schools could be told to stop serving hot tea to children under 16 on health and safety grounds.
The
School Food Trust
said 'further restrictions' could be added to guidelines on the drinks approved for consumption in state schools. The Trust, funded by the government, is holding a consultation which asks whether tea and coffee should be limited to adults and pupils over 16.
Headteachers attacked the idea. Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "I can understand the anxiety about young people eating appropriate food but this nannying really has to end.
"This just cuts into people's civil liberties."
UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom called the idea 'utterly stupid'.
"Their pettiness knows no bounds," he said.
The School Food Trust said it did not want to ban `the British cuppa'. But hot coffee and tea have `minimal' nutritional benefits and pose potential safety risks to young children, the Trust said.
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Trouble brewing over cuppa ban move
February 16, 2008
Showing comments 1 to 7 and replies | View All
Pippa, Manchester (16/02/2008 at 15:09)
Batfink, Manchester (16/02/2008 at 17:46)
didarunna2spain, Tarragona Spain. (16/02/2008 at 20:12)
Unless,that is,libraries have been told to burn them.
garfield (16/02/2008 at 22:35)
LookingForLogic, Stockport (18/02/2008 at 02:36)
Every kid should have the right to access a hot drink if they need it though,will they ban swimming pools from offering hot chocolate next? Though most kids go for the chemically ridden power aid anyway?
Mr Angry, Bury (18/02/2008 at 08:18)
Get rid of it by putting swingeing restrictions on the activities of solicitors and the stupid claims would dry up, thus making health and safety nazis redundant
Problem : a large part of the government/parliamant are lawyers.
PW, Manchester (18/02/2008 at 08:43)
It taught me to be more careful with hot drinks. My parents also said the same at the time. In 1971, it was unthinkable to consider it the fault of the establishment where it happened! The country's mad.
I also learned not to put my hand in the fire, from an early age. It's part of the experience of life and the learning process. But lawyers make a good living from it all now.