SUGAR FREE KIDS MARYLAND
BALTIMORE CITY WARNING LABEL BILL
TALKING POINTS

SUGAR FREE KIDS MARYLAND

  • Sugar Free Kids Maryland was launched in 2014 and is the state’s leading voice in the fight against type 2 diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay.
  • In May of 2015, the Baltimore City Council voted unanimously to support the initiatives of Sugar Free Kids Maryland in a Bill submitted by Councilmember Nick Mosby.
  • The Bill was supported by Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana S. Wen.

THE BILL

  • On January 11, 2016 Councilmember Nick Mosbyintroduced a bill to the City Council that would require all advertisements for sugary beverages to contain a warning stating the health risks associated with consuming the beverage. The bill will be heard by the City Council’s Health Committee on June 7.
  • The warning label would read as follows: “WARNING: DRINKING BEVERAGES WITH ADDED SUGAR CONTRIBUTES TO TOOTH DECAY, OBESITY, AND DIABETES. THIS MESSAGE IS FROM THE BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.”
  • The advertisements would also authorize Dr. Wen to impose penalties (no more than $1,000) for non-compliance.
  • These advertisements include those on paper, poster or billboard on walls or structures.They include restaurant menus and points of purchase.
  • They do not include those in any form of media (newspapers, magazine, electronic media) food packages.
  • In June of 2015, San Francisco became the first city in the nation to approve similar legislation.
  • The bill is about transparency, education and a consumer’s right to know.
  • Most people have no idea REALLY how harmful sugary drinks are.This is new information, like learning in 1965 how harmful tobacco is. Sugary drinks are harmful when used as directed.
  • With a quick glance, Baltimore City residents will know whether advertised or offered drinks will cause them harm, and can make educated decisions about whether to purchase them.

THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY

  • Sugary drink companies are targeting children and lower-income families of Baltimoreby spending millions of dollars on targeted marketing. Although soda sales are on the decline with wealthier families, they are holding steady with those families with lower incomes. Sales of other sugary drinks, like sports drinks, energy drinks and juices with added sugar, have increased in every community.
  • Children of these lower-income families are often at home after school to watch sugary drink commercials and not participating in afterschool activities. African-American children view 90 percent more sugary drink ads than their white counterparts.
  • The industry creates healthier drinks as well. The beverage industry will profit, whether we buy their sugary drinks or their healthier choices. Manufacturers, bottlers and distrubuters are needed to make and deliver all of the industry’s products.
  • Consumers who walk into stores will not leave those stores until their thirst is quenched. If they who walk into stores aren’t buying sugary drinks, they will most likely walk out with healthier drinks.

DANGERS OF SUGARY DRINKS

  • Overwhelming science proves that sugary drinks are a unique driver of today’s skyrocketing diabetes epidemic, and the root of a whole list of chronic diseases in our children and adults.
  • Sugary drinks contribute more calories and added sugars to our diets than any other food or beverage and daily consumption is strongly linked to type 2 diabetes rates (Institute of Medicine, 2012).
  • One in three Maryland children is overweight. (Institute of Medicine, 2012)
  • Sugary drinks contribute more calories and sugar to our children’s diet than any other single source. (Institute of Medicine, 2012)
  • Drinking just one 8 oz. sugary drink per day increases a child’s odds of becoming obese The Institute of Medicine attributes 20 percent of the nation’s weight increase between 1977 and 2007 to consumption of sugary drinks, including regular soda, sugar-added juices, flavored waters and teas, sports drinks, and energy drinks (Institute of Medicine, 2012).

THE SCIENCE OF SUGARY DRINKS

  • Liquid sugar absorbs directly into the bloodstream in 30 minutes. (To compare, a candy bar takes hours to digest.)
  • The liquid sugar overwhelms the liver, forcing it to convert the sugar into fat. Fatty liver disease ((causes)) diabetes. -- This leads to diabetes.
  • This is how just one serving of a sugary drink per day leads to diabetes and other chronic disease like heart disease, high blood pressure, and even some cancers.
  • Human beings were just not designed to consume that much liquid sugar.