NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2320B
SPONSOR: Dinowitz TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in
relation to the labeling of sugar-sweetened beverages with warnings
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Requires a safety warning label on certain sugar-sweetened beverages,
concentrates used to make sugar-sweetened beverages, beverage dispensing
machines, and vending machines that dispense sugar-sweetened beverages
in order to increase public awareness regarding the health ailments
associated with consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, especially
obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 sets forth the short title of the bill, which is the "sugar-
sweetened beverages safety warning act."
Section 2 amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new section
204-e, which provides for definitions relating to the implementation of
this act, the labeling requirements for sealed beverage containers,
multipacks of sugar-sweetened beverages in sealed beverage containers,
concentrates, vending machines, and beverages dispensing machines. In
addition, Section 2 provides for enforcement language, including certain
penalty provisions, while also providing for clarification of violations
as they relate to certain retailers.
Section 3 is a severability clause. Section 4 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
The prevalence of obesity in the state has increased dramatically over
the past 30 years. Although no group has escaped the epidemic, low
income and minority communities are disproportionately affected. Obesi-
ty is of particular concern because it is also attributed to health
ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, asthma high blood
cholesterol, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer.
Medical costs are also a growing concern; people who are obese are
dramatically higher than for those of normal weight. Overweight and
obesity account for $147 billion in health care cost nationally, or 9
percent of all medical spending, with one-half of these costs paid
publicly through the Medicare and Medicaid programs which put a strain
on the states limited resources.
Individuals who drink one to two sugar sweetened beverages per day have
a 26 percent higher risk for developing type II diabetes. Sugar sweet-
ened beverages are a unique contributor to excess caloric consumption.
There is extensive research on the link between obesity, tooth decay,
and diabetes to the consumption of sweetened beverages such as soft
drinks, energy drinks, sweet teas and sports drinks. Evidence suggests
that health warnings can increase knowledge and reduce of harmful
products such as sugar-sweetened beverages.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2013-14- A.10172- Referred to Consumer Protection
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
