Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health Nutrition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Supervisors introduce package to curb sugary‑drink promotion; new ban on tobacco use at athletic fields proposed
Summary
Supervisors introduced multiple items aiming to reduce sugary‑drink consumption — including prohibiting city funds from buying sugary drinks, requiring health warnings on soda ads, and banning sugary‑drink advertising on city property — while another supervisor proposed banning smokeless tobacco at athletic fields.
A set of public‑health measures targeting sugary beverages and tobacco drew introductions and sponsor remarks at the March 10 Board meeting.
Supervisor John Avalos, Supervisor Mark Farrell and Supervisor Jane Kim joined other supervisors in supporting measures intended to curb consumption of sugar‑sweetened beverages. Supervisor Scott Wiener introduced an ordinance to require warning labels on stationary advertisements for sugar‑sweetened beverages; Wiener said the label would read: "Warning: drinking beverages with added sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. This is a message from the City and County of San Francisco." Wiener said the signs would apply to posters and billboards posted on structures and that warnings would be phased in for new ads, with enforcement by the Department of Public Health and a 30‑day corrective period before fines.
Supervisor Katy Tang requested a city attorney draft legislation to allow backyard cottages (accessory units in rear yards) and said she would convene community discussion about size and rear‑yard exceptions.
Supervisor John Avalos and Supervisor Samer (items co‑sponsored by others) introduced related items: Supervisor Wiener and Supervisor Mark Farrell also supported a package including a hearing and several ordinances. Supervisor David Campos and Supervisor Malia Cohen, among others, emphasized health equity concerns: Cohen said the city should hold sugary‑drink advertising to the same standards applied to tobacco and alcohol and invited colleagues to cosponsor a ban on sugary‑drink advertising on city property. Supervisor Maher described legislation prohibiting city departments, contractors and grantees from using public funds to purchase sugary drinks and said his office will also introduce measures to track sugary‑drink retailers and to endorse state legislation for warning labels on containers.
Separately, Supervisor Mark Farrell introduced an ordinance to ban smokeless (chewing) tobacco on all city athletic fields; the ordinance as introduced would take effect January 2016 and mirror the structure of existing tobacco control laws.
These items were introductions and referred to committee; no votes on the substance were taken on March 10.
