What's the matter with LOL drinks?

LOL drinks made by Golden Circle are 250ml can of fruit based drink which look very much like the energy drinks V and Red Bull. Per can, each drink contains 26g + of total carbohydrate which is slightly more than that of the equivalent sized can of Coca Cola. While fruit based sugars may appear to be a healthier choice than a regular soft drink, at the end of the day any beverage based on sugar; be it fruit sugar or sucrose (table sugar) represent empty calories that we, and in particular our children do not need. Furthermore, the can style of product also poses a number of issues from a dental health perspective. LOL is a disappointing release from Golden Circle given the statistics that indicate that at least 1 in 4 children in Australia is overweight or obese, and sweetened beverages are implicated in contributing to excessive weight gain in children. In fact, a recent paper published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests that children consume no more than 2 sweetened drinks per week. The obesity team at The Children's Hospital Westmead feels extremely strongly that this drink is highly inappropriate for children and we will continue to liase with the company and the NSW School Canteen Association to have its inclusion as a "Healthy Beverage Choice" for children reevaluated.