Gaffney High students seeking a sugar high from their favorite soft drink were disappointed when they visited school vending machines after classes began this year.

The Cherokee County School District has removed all soft drinks except diet sodas and juice drinks from school vending machines.

"Government legislation states that public schools that receive public funding must do everything possible to keep students healthy," said Gaffney High Principal Marlene Davis.

Student reaction to the removal of soft drinks was varied.

"I didn't buy them anyways because they were so expensive, so it doesn't bother me," said senior Kayla Bolf.

The drinks cost $1.25.

Bradley Hall, also a senior, feels that "the aim of what they are doing is good, but taking soft drinks out of schools will not have that much of an effect on obesity."

The Cherokee County School Board first considered removing the soft drinks in 2006. During that same year, the country's top three soft drink companies announced they would start removing sweetened drinks such as Coke, Pepsi and iced teas from school cafeterias and vending machines in response to the growing threat of lawsuits and state legislation, according to a story in the NY Times.

The sale of soft drinks has been lucrative. In 2006 the school district received $167,726 from the sale of soft drinks through a contract with PepsiCo. The contract is expected to generate $2 million over its 10-year duration, district officials said.

Davis said proceeds from soft drink sales are shared among county schools. At Gaffney High School, the money goes towards activity funds, paper and needed books. She said the absence of sweetened drinks has not affected sales.

"Sodas are just not healthy for anyone." says Rainee Clary, a vascular technologist. "They are high in sugar, which is bad for the teeth, and high in calories, which increases the risk for obesity — a huge health problem in America."

Research done by the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease and Control found that the number of obese children ages 6 to 11 doubled between 1980 and 2000. For persons ages 12 to 19 the numbers tripled during that same period.

Several other types of vending machines at Gaffney High School offer unhealthy choices such as candy bars, but Davis said the school is working with vendors to put healthier snacks in those machines.