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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: 4, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 29 2019, @03:20PM (3 children)
That's only because it's the only food item that's measured in liters.
(Score: 3, Informative) by istartedi on Wednesday May 29 2019, @08:07PM (2 children)
Semantics. He could have said "tons" and it would have had the same meaning. It was a figure of speech, meant to emphasize that those products are over-consumed. The units of measure are not what's relevant here.
Even on the Internet, where nuance and sarcasm in particular are hard to convey, you should have comprehended that.
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(Score: 2) by AthanasiusKircher on Wednesday May 29 2019, @10:01PM (1 child)
See, I took it as a joke. I doubt it was intended to be otherwise. Why get angry?
(Score: 2) by istartedi on Wednesday May 29 2019, @10:55PM
I'm not particularly angry, but I don't think it was meant as a set-up line and it wasn't a particularly funny joke... if it was intended as such. Does anything mean anything any more? I guess it depends on what your definition of definition is, as if any of this matters much anyway.
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