Melbourne mum sparks debate about 'metal drink bottle ban' in Aussie schools

An Aussie mum is baffled as to why some schools have banned metal drink bottles as the move away from plastic continues. 

Melbourne TikToker Olivia White uploaded a video questioning the decision after the ban was enforced at the schools of her friends' kids.

The topic has divided the internet with the mum inundated with a wide range of responses as to why the ban is in place.

'Does anyone know why schools are banning metal drink bottles?' Ms White began. 

'Mine has not but I've seen people other people posting on Instagram that they can't take metal drink bottles.' 

Ms White believes that the bottle ban 'doesn't make any sense'.

'I don't understand why,' she continued. 

'I thought we weren't doing plastic. All of mine are metal. Is the answer really obvious?'

She has received hundreds of messages from people saying that their schools have concerns about children throwing them.

Others said that the bottles were banned because they weighed down students' bags. 

'I put that (post) up and I've had so many people saying they have banned them,' Ms White told Yahoo News Australia. 

'They are not all for the same reason, some reasons sound a bit like maybe they don't want to say what the actual reason is. 

'A few said that they had been used as weapons but really, anything can be a weapon.

'Another is the 'haves and have nots' drink bottle culture — just as many people have said that's the reason. Children are bullying each other about what they do and don't have.' 

While there is no blanket ban on taking metal drink bottles to school, a spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said individual school were able to make their own rules.

The viral TikTiokhas attracted hundreds of comments and almost 25,000 views since it was uploaded last month.

'I'm a teacher. The only thing I can think of is that they're so loud when they drop them,' one said. 

Another teacher claimed she 'had a kid throw a metal water bottle across the class when they were angry'

Another recalled how she was 'nearly seriously injured' by a flying bottle. 

'My son’s high school did it so kids couldn’t hide what they were drinking. The rule was water only,' a parent commented.  

Another added: 'Boys kick them round and use them as weapons in real and play fights with each other.'

A third wrote: 'It’s so if the bottle is thrown around the playground, it won’t 'hurt’, or that’s the reason my kid’s school gave.