California Sends Soda Packing, with Nation's Most Comprehensive School Beverage Law.

News Editors/Health/Medical Writers

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 18, 2003

The nation's most comprehensive state ban on school soda sales became law yesterday, when Governor Gray Davis signed SB 677, the California Childhood Obesity Prevention Act. This new legislation effectively locks soda out of public elementary, middle and junior high school campuses effective July 1, 2004, adding fuel to national efforts to improve the nutrition environment for students fighting a growing obesity epidemic.

"Obesity is a leading health threat to our children and soda is a leading cause of obesity," stated SB 677 author Senator Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento). "I'm proud California is leading the nation on this health issue affecting our children."

While SB 677 is now the most comprehensive school beverage law in the nation, California's newly enacted ban expands on other states' efforts to protect student health. Arkansas and New York have state laws mandating a ban on unhealthy beverages, but these are more limited in scope than SB 677. West Virginia has a similar far-reaching policy; however, that policy was issued by the State Department of Education, not legislated by the West Virginia Legislature. Administrative policies in three other states, Florida, Hawaii and Texas, also ban the sale of unhealthy beverages.

Harold Goldstein, executive director of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, a leading proponent of the bill, applauded the Governor, Senator Ortiz and Legislature, saying, "This is an important step forward in changing the environment for our children. California's leadership on this issue sets a standard for a nation wrestling with an out of control obesity epidemic among our children." Goldstein noted that within the past two decades, overweight has more than doubled among children. "Enactment of SB 677 sends a definitive message: children learn not only from what we tell them, but also from what we sell them."

In addition to banning the sale of soda during school hours, SB677 sets nutrition standards for all beverages sold and stipulates what constitutes a healthy beverage. The law also protects existing California law (SB 19) that establishes strict school nutrition standards. SB 19's standards could only be mandated if money was appropriated by Jan. 1, 2004. Given California's budget crisis that did not occur, but SB 677 amends this provision so those standards are mandated when funds are appropriated. A fact sheet outlining the provisions of SB 677 can be found at www.publichealthadvocacy.org.

The CCPHA is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded by the California Public Health Association-North and the Southern California Public Health Association. The Center receives funding from The California Endowment, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, and private donors.