The Boston Corner Store initiative is a pilot program to encourage Boston middle school students to drink healthier beverages and to increase their preference for purchasing such drinks at nearby convenience stores.
Students often head to corner stores before or after school, and with limited money to spend, they buy cheap drinks that do not have any nutrients. Under the program, eight convenience stores in the immediate vicinity of six Boston public middle schools will prominently display and market healthier beverages ---low-fat milk, plain water, and 100 percent juices---to middle school students when they visit the stores to make purchases.
Students will receive a “Drink Smart Card’’ that the corner store clerk will stamp each time it’s presented for the purchase of a healthy beverage. After receiving 10 stamps on the card, students can drop the card into a Drink Smart box at their school and be eligible to participate in a monthly raffle. They can continue to get new cards and take part in raffles through the end of the current school year. Students will receive other incentives, including a “Think About Your Drink’’ bracelet and bookmark.
What are the facts?
On average, today’s children and youth consume less than one 8-ounce serving of milk daily, compared to the recommended intake of three servings. Consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages has dramatically increased as milk consumption as decreased. The increased consumption of soft drinks is directly linked to rising youth obesity and diabetes rates.
Because Americans get about 65 more calories a day from soft drinks than they did 30 years ago that can add up to about 7 pounds of weight gain every year, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Boston, 52 percent of adults are considered overweight or obese, according to the Public Health Commission. About half of high school students are either overweight or at-risk of being overweight, Harvard University’s 2004 Boston Youth Survey found.
Special thanks to community partners who support this corner store initiative.
BOSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL-CORNER STORE INITIATIVE PARTNERS:
Boston Public Health Commission
Boston Medical Center, Nutrition and Fitness for Life Program
Boston Public Schools
Northeastern University, Department of Counseling and Applied Educational Psychology
Harvard School of Public Health, Prevention Research Center
New England Dairy & Food Council
New England Dairy Promotion Board
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Tenacity
STORE PARTNERS:
Tedeschi Food Shop
Fuller’s Market
Ortiz Grocery
A Nubian Notion
Preparations
Devon Market
CVS
Two Brothers Market
SCHOOL PARTNERS:
William B. Rogers Middle School
James P. Timilty Middle School
Woodrow Wilson Middle School
Mildred Avenue Middle School
Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School
Mario Umana Middle School Academy
Read first year evaluation report here