DENVER -- Soda pop will no longer be allowed in Colorado's schools. The State Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to ban such beverages along with high calorie drinks.

"Those are empty calories -- no nutrition," said Erin Bertoli of the American Heart Association. "Students already are consuming more than their bodies are burning. We don't have a lot of physical education in our schools in Colorado. When you look at those calories, it really doesn't add up."

Beginning July 1, 2009 beverages sold to students on school grounds must meet minimum nutritional standards set forth by the board, although school districts can be more restrictive if they choose.

The state board ruled the following can be sold in elementary schools:

Bottled Water

Up to 8 ounces of fat free or low fat milk

Up to 8 ounces of 100 percent juice (up to 120 calories)

In Middle Schools the following can be sold:

Bottled Water

Up to 10 ounces of fat free or low fat milk

Up to 10 ounces of 100 percent juice (up to 120 calories)

In High Schools:

Bottled Water

Up to 12 ounces of fat free or low fat milk

Up to 12 ounces of 100 percent juice (up to 120 calories)

Other drinks, up to 12 ounces, with no more than 66 calories

The board originally planned to allow diet sodas to be sold at the high school level, but voted unanimously to ban them along with other soft drinks.

"Clearly, the amount of soda students consume has increased over the years," said Bertoli. "Childhood obesity is an issue."

"This is good first step," said Lynn Setzer, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County School District. "It will be tough for kids to change those habits."

School districts won't just have to do without soda pop. Most school districts have monetary contracts with soda distributors such as Pepsi or Coke that could go away.

"The contract that Pepsi has with the district provides a quarter of a million dollars a year to the school district," said Setzer. "It also gives schools a commission on soda drinks that they sell from vending machines."

According to the Colorado rural schools caucus, the rural schools are also really concerned about the loss of revenue by banning soda pop.

There are some exceptions to this ruling. Soda pop can be sold at school-related events, such as plays, performances and school games, where parents and other adults are a significant part of an audience.

Several school districts such as Boulder Valley, Douglas County and Denver already follow most of these guidelines. The only change for them will be removing diet sodas from their high schools.