Madam, - The recent feature on value for money in school drinks (August 21st) was somewhat ill-chosen and inappropriate for today's society with burgeoning obesity among children. Whoever said that all children's school drinks need to be sweetened?
Orange juices in small packs are sugary, providing 30 to 50 calories per 100 mls or 300 to 500 per litre.
"Diet drinks" using aspartame contain up to six chemicals and are designed, in my opinion, to cultivate a sweet taste in children.
The one healthy option chosen and recommended (a "smoothie") was extremely expensive (€6.93 per litre), probably being beyond most parents' budgets.
What is wrong with milk or water? Excessive intakes of sugared, sweetened drinks make a significant contribution to superfluous calories. - Yours, etc,
DENIS G GILL, Professor of Paediatrics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin 2.