This school year, Hawai'i's middle and high school students are going to find a lot less soda in their campus soda machines.

The Department of Education last week began implementing a new school beverage policy that limits 80 percent of soda machine offerings to healthy choices such as milk, flavored milk, water or fruit juice containing at least 50 percent juice.

Individual secondary schools can determine what other drinks they may offer for the remaining selections, and have discretion over whether to offer caffeinated sodas. Coffee and alcoholic beverages are banned.

Elementary schools are restricted to selling only healthy options if the machine is accessible to students.

Kaimuki High School principal Dennis Manalili said the vendors that service the machines will make sure those on his campus are stocked with healthy drinks. "I've had assurances that they will follow the letter and intent of the policy," he said.

The beverage policy toughens existing soda machine rules, which had already prevented vending machine use during times when the school is offering breakfast or lunch service.

That policy also already prevented anyone but the school cafeteria from selling food during school hours. The rules do not prevent clubs or other organizations from selling items such as candy or cookies for fundraisers, but the items have to be sold before or after school.

Vending machines that offer food are not allowed.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.