New campaign urges young Australians to rethink their drink choices

A Victorian Government campaign has been launched, warning Australian teenagers to limit their consumption of sugary drinks.

The “Thirsty” campaign aims to debunk the “manipulative sweet deal” that big brands are selling to consumers.

The thirty second advertisement shows graphic images of a young male’s rotten teeth, exposing the damage regular soft drink consumption can impose.

The Rethink Sugary Drink initiative revealed that sugary drinks contribute the most added sugar to Australians’ diets, with young males aged 12-24 consuming 1.5 litres of soft drinks, sports drinks or energy drinks each day.

Many drinks contain acid, however beverages sweetened with sugar produce more acid when the sugar combines with bacteria in the mouth, weakening the tooth enamel and causing decay.

Excessive consumption of sugary drinks can also lead to unhealthy weight gain, increasing the risk of serious health issues such as type 2 diabetes, heart and kidney disease, stroke and 13 types of cancer.

Our teeth and bodies will be stronger and healthier if we eliminate sugary drinks from our diet altogether, but with their addictive nature this can be difficult.

The experts at House Call Doctor suggest these tips:

• Avoid going down the soft drink aisle at the supermarket
• Carry a water bottle around at all times to prevent temptation to buy a drink on the go
• When eating out, look for healthier options than soft drink, or just ask for water

According to the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines, soft drinks are considered a discretionary food, therefore are not an essential part of a healthy diet.