S.F. Could Be First City to Demand Health Warnings on Soda Ads

Earlier this month, San Francisco lawmakers introduced legislation against sugary beverages.

A 60-foot long Coca-Cola bottle stands near left field at AT&T Park in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

This is your first of three free stories this month. Become a free or sustaining member to read unlimited articles, webinars and ebooks.

Become A Member

San Francisco isn’t giving up on the battle against Big Soda. Less than a year after the beverage industry spent $10 million to stop a proposed city tax on sugary drinks, the three city lawmakers behind the stymied 2014 Soda Tax Campaign are back at it with new legislation that could make SF the first city to require that ads for sugary beverages include a health warnings like tobacco products do.

“Last fall we heard over and over again from voters – and also the soda industry — that we should be focusing to improve efforts around education of the harmful effects of sodas,” said San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener, who introduced the legislation with supervisors Malia Cohen and Eric Mar. “These health warning labels will give people the information they need to make informed choices about how these sodas are impacting their lives and the lives of people in their community.”

According to Sup. Wiener’s website:

The City’s independent Budget and Legislative Analyst Office has placed the financial impact of sugary drinks at over $50 million costs even when only considering diabetes and obesity. Without action, one in three of today’s children will develop diabetes in their lifetime, and among African American and Latino youth, half will develop diabetes.

In November 2014, voters 56% of the voters in San Francisco voted in favor of two penny per ounce tax on sodas and other sugary beverages distributed in San Francisco. While this broke the 50% threshold required of a general tax, because the 2014 tax dedicated funding to specific health and nutrition programming, it was a special tax, which required a 2/3 majority to pass.

“We are continuing this fight in 2015 with legislation that will make our communities healthier and better informed about the risks posed by Big Soda,” Sup. Mar said.

In addition to the warning labels, the legislation would ban ads on publicly owned property, and prohibit the use of city funds for the purchase of sugary beverages.

SPUR, a nonprofit dedicated to finding solutions to problems facing Bay Area cities, released a report in February addressing food accessibility. The report recommended the city take proactive steps to educate consumers, provide healthier options in all neighborhoods and reduce demand for sugary beverages, a recommendation the supervisors seem to agree with.

Like what you’re reading? Get a browser notification whenever we post a new story. You’re signed-up for browser notifications of new stories. No longer want to be notified? Unsubscribe.

Jenn Stanley is a freelance journalist, essayist and independent producer living in Chicago. She has an M.S. from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Follow Jenn .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Tags: san franciscohealth

×
Next City App Never Miss A StoryDownload our app ×
×

You've reached your monthly limit of three free stories.

This is not a paywall. Become a free or sustaining member to continue reading.

  • Read unlimited stories each month
  • Our email newsletter
  • Webinars and ebooks in one click
  • Our Solutions of the Year magazine
  • Support solutions journalism and preserve access to all readers who work to liberate cities

Join 1109 other sustainers such as:

  • Anonymous at $5/Month
  • Anonymous at $10/Month
  • Mark at $60/Year

Already a member? Log in here. U.S. donations are tax-deductible minus the value of thank-you gifts. Questions? Learn more about our membership options.

or pay by credit card:

All members are automatically signed-up to our email newsletter. You can unsubscribe with one-click at any time.

  • Donate $20 or $5/Month

    20th Anniversary Solutions of the Year magazine

has donated ! Thank you 🎉
Donate
×