ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — Howard County is banning the sale of sugary drinks on county property.

County Executive Ken Ulman announced the ban on Tuesday at a middle school in Ellicott City.

County officials say the ban is aimed at lowering childhood obesity rates and raising awareness about the health hazards of sugary drinks.

The Baltimore Sun reports (http://bsun.md/XQSKHr) that Ulman’s order says all beverages procured, served or sold by county departments must meet standards that limit the number of calories per serving. The ban does not apply to county schools, but soda sales were already banned in elementary schools in 2006. And high school vending machines can’t contain more than 50 percent soda.

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