Would you like water with that?
Kids’ meals in California’s restaurants may only be offered with water or milk if a bill in the state Legislature is successful, and it has already made several steps in that direction.
No soda? No juice?
Here’s what you should know about this bill.
What does the bill do?
For restaurants that sell children’s meals, it would require the default beverage offering to be water, sparkling water, flavored water, unflavored milk or a nondairy milk alternative. Goodbye, chocolate milk.
However, it wouldn’t completely ban options like soda. Customers could still get alternative beverages by request, the restaurants just have to offer the regulated options first.
That includes menu listing and advertising of meals for children. Restaurants caught violating the law, after a warning, could be fined as much as $500.
What has been the response been so far?
Supporters of the bill include the American Heart Association, California State Alliance of YMCAs and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California.
On the other hand, Sen. Joel Anderson, R-Alpine, voted against the bill because he says this should be up to parents.
