California legislators introduced a bill on Thursday that would put labels on all soda and sugar-sweetened drinks sold in the state warning customers of diabetes, tooth decay and obesity.
A handful of public health organizations reportedly support the bill, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Sugary, high-calorie drunks would bear similar warning labels to those found on tobacco and alcohol items sold in the Golden State.
California officials and supporters of the bill said on Thursday that this was the first-ever push against obesity of its kind.
Recent research has revealed even further how detrimental sugary drinks can be for the American diet. The Tribune reported many of these studies have shown sweet drinks contribute greatly to obesity and the other health issues associated with it.
An initiative on San Francisco ballots would put a 2-cents-per-ounce tax on added-sugar drinks, according to the Tribune. A similar soda bill didn't pass in two other California cities, in addition to Telluride, Colo.
The American Beverage Association, an organization that represents PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Co. said warning labels wouldn't instantly lead to a healthier population.
But for California state Senator Bill Monning, who introduced the bill in Sacramento, the measure means to address a serious issue in the United States, where 35.7 percent of adults and 16.9 percent of kids between 2 and 19 years old are overweight.
"When the science is this conclusive, the state of California has a responsibility to take steps to protect consumers," he said.
