Hamilton’s Board of Health will significantly reduce the availability of bottled water and sugary drinks at all recreation facilities and arenas over the next three years.
In a 6-3 vote, members supported a recommendation crafted by public health officials that will "increase healthy food and beverage choices" as part of an action plan that will be overseen until 2021.
"We do need to be sustainable," said Ward 1 Coun.
Aidan Johnson, who initially proposed banning bottled water and sugary drinks from city-owned facilities in 2016.
"We are within our mandate."
About 80 Canadian municipalities have restricted the use of bottled water.
The City of Toronto imposed a ban on bottled water that included parks, recreation facilities and civic centres.
Although volunteers will be "encouraged" to eliminate the sale of bottled water and sugary drinks by city staff.
Public health officials don’t know how much revenue the city could lose with the decision, but on average Hamilton receives about $22,000 from bottled water and $44,000 from sugary drinks annually.
He wanted staff to conduct a survey of people who use recreation facilities about their opinions about limiting the sale of bottled water and sugary drinks.