A soda pop trade organization sued San Francisco to overturn laws banning ads on city property and requiring warning labels on sugary beverages with the words “…added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.” The American Beverage Association claims the law banning the industry’s ads violates their free speech rights. (San Francisco Chronicle, July 24, 2015, by Emily Green)
The beverage industry is trying to claim that requiring the message, the city is imposing a one-sided discussion of the topic of harmful sugar in soft drinks. (SFWeekly, July 27, 2015)
Writing in TakePart, July 28, 205, Jason Best points out the irony of big soda’s challenge of San Francisco’s restrictions on soda ads and the warning label requirement. He says Coca-Cola leads the industry in spending $9.3 million to lobby Congress followed by PepsiCo at $3.5 million. They have the clout to counter any statements about soda’s ill effects but continue to insist that their First Amendment rights are in jeopardy even though government has long been able to regulate alcohol and tobacco to promote public health.