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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: 2) by istartedi on Wednesday May 29 2019, @11:02PM
It's not so much the juice, as it is the way it's delivered. OK, there's HFCS vs. real sugar. Coke used to be real sugar in 6.5 oz. bottles. Themz was the good ol' days.
When I was still drinking the stuff, 12 oz. cans were standard. Already too much, but tolerable and I'd drink the whole thing and crush a trail in the Appalachians so it was not a problem.
Then they started having nothing but 20 oz. bottles, and at the end of a hike I'd be like... dang, I don't want to waste this but it's too much. Somehow the bulb went on for me.
I pretty much stopped drinking the stuff around that time. Somehow, I was lucky enough to be the kind of person that knew something wasn't right about it all.
I'm with you. Not everybody has the make-up to face off against a marketing machine that favors gluttons and say "no". I don't want prohibition. It's already legal, but like that other vice that's recently begun to trend legal, "legalize and tax", because it's obviously a vice.
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