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California lawmakers on Thursday advanced the last major surviving bill in a package aimed at reducing consumption of sodas, approving a measure that would require health warning labels on sugary drinks.
The measure by Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) received a bare majority of votes even though some Democrats withheld votes while others in the majority party joined Republicans in opposition.
The latest action follows this year’s shelving of measures that would have put a tax on soda and banned “Big Gulp”-style sodas in an effort to address health risks including obesity and diabetes that are posed by sugary drinks.
“They represent the single leading source of increased bad calories that are being promoted in our communities and pushed on communities of color,” Monning said during the floor debate, citing a “national epidemic” of diabetes.
The label on container would say: “STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) may contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay.”
[...] The American Beverage Assn. opposed the bill with a strong push by lobbyists and while making major political contributions to state lawmakers.
The industry argued that the bill and its health impact claims went too far.
“There are already more effective ways to help people manage their overall sugar consumption rather than through mandatory and misleading messages,” said Steven Maviglio, a spokesman for the American Beverage Assn.
[...] Legislators are also still considering a bill that would bar the soda industry from offering subsidies including discount coupons that encourage soda consumption.
(Score: 1) by Coward, Anonymous on Wednesday May 29 2019, @08:28PM (1 child)
I appreciate the explanation, but don't follow the logic. The statement "Sugary drinks cause obesity and tooth decay" already does not imply that everyone who drinks them will suffer those effects. People will read the word "may" as meaning that the opposite may also be true, i.e. sugary drinks may not cause obesity and tooth decay. Putting this label on Coke bottles will make people less certain of the negative effects.
(Score: 2) by pipedwho on Wednesday May 29 2019, @10:45PM
You make an excellent point. But, there's probably some legal ruling somewhere where a definite statement like "x causes y" must be true in all cases otherwise it'll be challenged in court on those grounds and end up getting watered down (like this) or removed completely. This is the basis of so much legal shenaniganism, lawsuits and 'marketing speak', that it's probably anathema to the people writing those warnings to make definitive statements that aren't loaded with preemptive weasel words.