The policy, which also bans unhealthy snacks, applies to beverages and food sold and served by any school or school organization.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) _ Portland's public schools are joining a national trend and barring the sale of soda and other unhealthy beverages and snacks on school grounds.

City schools will implement a policy this fall that applies to food and beverages sold and served by any school or school organization. Food served on field trips, sold by sports teams and offered at events sponsored by parent-teacher organizations must comply with the policy. Fans won't even be able to buy a soda at sports events.

Chanda Turner, Portland's school health coordinator, tells The Portland Press Herald the policy doesn't prevent a student or teacher from bringing a soda to school. They just won't be able to buy one from a machine.

The new rules also don't apply to non-school groups that use school facilities.