BLOOMINGTON (AP) - A nonprofit health care provider based in the Twin Cities area says it's cutting back on sugary drinks at its hospitals and clinics.

Bloomington-based HealthPartners said Monday that it would take out at least 80 percent of all sugary drinks in its network next year. Beverages with calorie-adding sweeteners are being removed at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park and the Park Nicollet network of clinics by Jan. 1.

Park Nicollet physician Dr. Karla Rosenman, who helped develop the policy, said there will still be diet sodas without caloric sweeteners. She said people can also bring in their own drinks.

HealthPartners is Minnesota's third-largest health care employer, and its move away from sugary drinks follows similar steps at Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services and Duluth-based Essentia Health.

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