February 17, 2006 - Connecticut Voters Say Ban Soda In Schools, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Children's Obesity Is Serious Problem, 93% Say
By a 68 - 25 percent margin, Connecticut voters support a proposal to ban the sale of soda in schools statewide, with consistent support across the political spectrum, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Obesity among children and teens is a "very serious" problem, 54 percent of voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll, while another 39 percent say the problem is "somewhat serious" and 4 percent say "not serious."

A ban on soda in schools would reduce the obesity problem "a lot," 20 percent say, while 52 percent say "a little" and 27 percent say "not at all."

Nine percent of Connecticut voters with children under 18 say they have at least one child who is seriously overweight.

"The ban on soda in Connecticut schools looks like an idea whose time has come: Men back it more than 2 -1 and women back it more than 3 -1, even though most people don't think it will be very effective curbing obesity in children and teenagers," said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D.

"Nine out of 10 Connecticut voters say obesity among young people is a serious problem and one in 10 parents of children under 18 say the problem strikes close to home."

From February 10 - 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 957 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida and the nation as a public service and for research.

For additional data-www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

24. As you may know, there is a proposal in the state legislature to ban the sale of soda in all Connecticut public schools. Do you support or oppose this proposal? 

                                                                  Have kids
                        Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    In School



Support                 68%    66%    69%    69%    64%    73%    69%
Oppose                  25     32     24     22     30     21     24 
DK/NA                    6      2      6      9      7      6      7
25. Thinking about the problem of obesity, that is people being seriously overweight, how serious is the problem of obesity among children and teens in Connecticut today? Very serious, somewhat serious, or not serious? 

                                                                  Have kids  
                        Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    In School



Very serious            54%    46%    57%    54%    48%    59%    50%
Smwht serious           39     46     34     40     43     35     42 
Not serious              4      4      5      4      5      4      6 
DK/NA                    3      4      3      2      3      3      2
26. How much do you think banning the sale of soda in public schools will do to reduce the problem of obesity in children - a lot, a little, or not at all? 

                                                                  Have kids
                        Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    In School
 
A lot                   20%    16%    23%    20%    15%    24%    17%
A little                52     53     51     52     52     51     49 
Not at all              27     32     25     27     32     23     33 
DK/NA                    1      -      1      1      1      1      -
27. Do you have any children under the age of 18? 

                        Tot     Rep     Dem     Ind     Men     Wom



Yes                     35%     38%     37%     30%     36%     34%
No                      65      62      63      70      64      66
DK/NA                    -       -       -       -       -       -
28. (If have children under 18) Would you consider any of your children to be seriously overweight? 
                        HAVE CHILDREN UNDER 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
                                                                  Have kids 
                        Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    In School



Yes                      9%     4%    14%     7%     5%    12%    10%
No                      91     96     86     93     95     88     90 
DK/NA                    -      -      -      -      -      -      -