Mozaffarian, RebeccaGortmaker, StevenKenney, EricaCarter, Jill E.Howe, M. Caitlin WestfallReiner, Jennifer F.Cradock, Angie2016-04-012016Mozaffarian, Rebecca S., Steven L. Gortmaker, Erica L. Kenney, Jill E. Carter, M. Caitlin Westfall Howe, Jennifer F. Reiner, and Angie L. Cradock. 2016. “Assessment of a Districtwide Policy on Availability of Competitive Beverages in Boston Public Schools, Massachusetts, 2013.” Preventing Chronic Disease 13 (1): E32. doi:10.5888/pcd13.150483. http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd13.150483.1545-1151http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:26318731Introduction: Competitive beverages are drinks sold outside of the federally reimbursable school meals program and include beverages sold in vending machines, a la carte lines, school stores, and snack bars. Competitive beverages include sugar-sweetened beverages, which are associated with overweight and obesity. We described competitive beverage availability 9 years after the introduction in 2004 of district-wide nutrition standards for competitive beverages sold in Boston Public Schools. Methods: In 2013, we documented types of competitive beverages sold in 115 schools. We collected nutrient data to determine compliance with the standards. We evaluated the extent to which schools met the competitive-beverage standards and calculated the percentage of students who had access to beverages that met or did not meet the standards. Results: Of 115 schools, 89.6% met the competitive beverage nutrition standards; 88.5% of elementary schools and 61.5% of middle schools did not sell competitive beverages. Nutrition standards were met in 79.2% of high schools; 37.5% did not sell any competitive beverages, and 41.7% sold only beverages meeting the standards. Overall, 85.5% of students attended schools meeting the standards. Only 4.0% of students had access to sugar-sweetened beverages. Conclusion: A comprehensive, district-wide competitive beverage policy with implementation support can translate into a sustained healthful environment in public schools.en-USJournal Article2016-04-0110.5888/pcd13.150483