Despite efforts made by a number of industry groups, the new law mandating that sugary beverage ads must be accompanied by warning labels will soon take effect in San Francisco.
A new law that is intended to inform and protect consumers from the hazardous effects that may occur from excessive consumption of sugary beverages will soon be put into effect, despite recent efforts taken against this legislation.
A new report from CBS News stated that the Northern California federal court where the law was being fought has cleared the way for the law to be put into effect in July 2016, rejecting the efforts to block the San Francisco law. The ordinance was proposed last year, and in July it will require that warnings appear on ads for soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages that appear on billboards, buses, transit shelters, posters and stadiums within the city.
CBS News reported that the warning, which would read: “WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay,” must cover 20% of the area of the ad.
According to CBS News, the American Beverage Association and other groups have sued the city to overturn the law, contending that the measure violates their constitutional right of free speech by forcing them to display a message with which they do not agree. However, U.S. District Court judge Edward Chen denied the request for an injunction to keep the measure on hold while the case proceeds.