The Californian politicians in power have found a
new way to spend tax dollars on enforcement - A new state bill
would give children two options with their meals at restaurants,
water or milk "to make the default beverage water, sparkling
water, or flavored water, as specified, or unflavored milk or a
nondairy milk alternative, as specified". Senate Bill 1192 makes
water or milk the default drink for kids meals in a push "to
reduce obesity and reduce access to sugary drinks for children".
"A person who violates
any provision of the code is guilty of a misdemeanor with each
offense punishable by a fine of not less than $25 or more than
$1,000, or by imprisonment in a county jail for a term not
exceeding 6 months, or by both that fine and imprisonment."
Under the bill, the 2nd and 3rd violations within five years
would be punishable by fines of not more than $250 and $500,
respectively.
One of the reasons
given is paragraph (f) "By enacting this act, it is the intent
of the Legislature to support parents’ efforts to feed their
children nutritiously by ensuring healthy beverages are the
default options in children’s meals in restaurants."
The bill passed the
Assembly and signed by Jerry Brown September 20, 2018.
California, not surprisingly the first state in the nation to
have such a law. Oh, and whatever they drink, they will not
be using a plastic straw, because another recently approved
Assembly Bill 1884 “prohibits dine-in restaurants from
automatically providing plastic straws” to customers.