The American Beverage Association, which sponsored at least one study in the article, said the authors had their own biases.

The American Beverage Association says that there are also studies that show no link between consumption of soft drinks and obesity.

He was President of the American Beverage Association (formerly the National Soft Drink Association) from 1990-2005.

"This is a voluntary policy, but I think schools will want to follow it," said Susan K. Neely, president of the American Beverage Association.

But in a survey released in August, the American Beverage Association said 45 percent of all school vending sales were sweetened soda.

The Coca-Cola Company referred a call for comment to the American Beverage Association, which forwarded a copy of its new "school vending policy."

He served as Chairman of the American Beverage Association.

When I put the question to Susan Neely, the president of the American Beverage Association, she declined as well.

Dr. Richard Adamson, vice president for scientific and technical affairs of the American Beverage Association, an industry group, dismissed the study as weak.

American Beverage Association is a trade organization that represents the beverage industry in the United States.