Oregon healthcare system stops selling sugary beverages

PORTLAND, Ore. — This week, many people have a New Year's resolution they're trying to work into their lives.

So, too, is Providence Health & Services, which will no longer sell or stock sugary drinks in Oregon hospitals and business offices as part of what's called a healthy dining initiative.

On Monday, the organization removed the drinks at its Northeast Portland business office.

During the next two months, the drinks will phased out at all eight of Providence's Oregon hospitals, clinics and businesses offices, said Sandy Miller, the organization's director of Health and Nutrition.

Some hospitals on the East Coast have taken similar steps, Miller said, but Providence would be the largest health care organization on the West Coast to take such drastic steps.

"We are committed to creating healthy communities," she said Tuesday.

Patients can still request the sugary drinks, and visitors and employees can bring them into the institutions.

They just won't be offered for sale.

Miller said any drink, carbonated or noncarbonated, that has added sugar will no longer be sold. That includes cane sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose and dextrose.

Gone: all regular sodas, energy drinks and sports drinks. So, too, prepackaged sweetened coffee and tea drinks, lemonade and punch.

Fruit and vegetable drinks must be 100 percent juice.

Miller said the organization has spent the past two years on the healthy dining initiative.