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State legislators are again trying to discourage the consumption of sugary drinks, proposing a tax Wednesday, warning labels and a ban soda displays near the coffers. The five bills deal with what Democratic lawmakers call a public health crisis An increase in obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other ailments. "The soda industry is the new tobacco industry," San Francisco MP David Chiu said, promoting its ban on restaurants selling soda in cups over 16 ounces. "It's an industry that has used marketing and sales tactics to victimize low-income communities, communities of color in our country." One of the four Californian adults is now obese, he said , an increase of 40% in two decades. More than half of Californians are overweight and more than half have diabetes or pre-diabetes. The average American drinks about 50 gallons of sweetened beverages a year, he said, consuming more than 40 kg of extra sugar. His bill would ban these coupons. The proposals include a tax on sweetened beverages that would be approved by a two-thirds vote. Health groups are also circulating petitions to impose a 2 cents per ounce tax on the 2020 vote. Several measures have failed several times in previous years, including the tax proposed by MP Richard Bloom of Santa Monica. He clarified that the details of his proposal are still being worked out, but a 2 cents an ounce tax would raise $ 2 billion a year for prevention efforts. The beverage industry claims that such a tax would be more difficult for people with low incomes and would have an uncertain health. The president and CEO of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Julian Canete, criticized the package on behalf of the beverage industry, claiming that soda makers had already done a lot to discourage overconsumption. The American Beverage Association has embarked on an "unprecedented commitment to the fight against obesity" by offering more choices and smaller portions with less sugar or no sugar.
State legislators are once again trying to discourage the consumption of sugary drinks, proposing on Wednesday a tax, warning labels and a ban on soft drinks in the vicinity of cash desks.
The five bills deal with what Democratic lawmakers call a public health crisis leading to an increase in obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other ailments.
"The soda industry is the new tobacco industry," San Francisco MP David Chiu said, promoting its ban on restaurants selling soda in cups over 16 ounces. "It's an industry that has used marketing and sales tactics to victimize low-income communities, communities of color across our country."
One of the four Californian adults is now obese, he said, an increase of 40% in two decades. More than half of Californians are overweight and more than half have diabetes or pre-diabetes. The average American drinks about 50 gallons of sweetened beverages a year, he said, consuming 39 pounds of extra sugar.