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: 3, Touché) by looorg on Wednesday May 29 2019, @03:06PM (3 children)
How tiny will the warning be or are they making the cans bigger?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 29 2019, @03:08PM
They'll put it on a sticker, like they do with the ingredients of Mexican Coke.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday May 29 2019, @04:06PM (1 child)
It doesn't matter how tiny most of the warnings are as long as there is one warning large enough to read . . .
WARNING this product packaging contains many micro printed warning messages in case you are interested.
When trying to solve a problem don't ask who suffers from the problem, ask who profits from the problem.
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Wednesday May 29 2019, @04:10PM
Yup. Just like this [me.me].
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr