San Francisco has begun replacing sugary beverages in the city's vending machines with healthier choices like soy milk, rice milk and other non-dairy drinks.

The move is part of an effort by city officials to enforce an April directive by Mayor Gavin Newsome that banned non-diet sodas, sports drinks and artificially sweetened water on city property.
 
However, diet sodas are permitted as well as juice drinks, if they are 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice without added sweeteners.
         
The mayor said the policy is all part of a push to fight obesity and improve people's health.

"There's a direct link between what people eat and drink and the obesity and health care crises in this country," Newsom spokesman Tony Winnicker said. "It's entirely appropriate and not at all intrusive for city government to take steps to discourage the sale of sugary sodas on city property."