Denver, Colorado's proposed “Healthy Drinks in Children's Meals” ordinance would place milk and water as the only options visible to children in order to encourage healthy options, even if others are available.
The Denver Post reported that this Denver proposal aims to “move away from soda and sugary drinks and help drive healthier dietary options for young Denver residents at a time when health professionals say rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity and fatty liver disease, are increasing in children.”
Essentially, this regulation would not prevent parents from purchasing soda or sugary drinks for their children, but would simply make them something that would not be a visible option on children's menus.
Fox News Digital reached out to Councilman Chris Hinds, one of the sponsors of the new legislation, who defended it by suggesting that “we are not taking away families' freedom of choice. If a parent wants their child to drink soda, orange juice, “or any other sugary drink, that's their right. We're just pushing the default option to be healthy.”
Many Americans are increasingly distrustful of sugar and its substitutes and their role in society's health problems. ((Photo credit should go to JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images))
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He also noted that this is part of a wave of similar regulations.
“This is the same approach with Denver's legislation on bag fees (pushing people to bring their own bags) and 'skipping the stuff' (pushing restaurants and people to receive napkins, soy sauce packets, etc. only when a customer requests it, rather than by default.),” Hinds wrote. 'Both still allow restaurants to provide bags/napkins, but the default option is better for the planet. The per-bag fee resulted in an 80% reduction in single-use bags in Denver.”
He further added: “Our hope is that this push will provide similar results for our children. We have a childhood obesity epidemic and a childhood diabetes epidemic in Denver (and far beyond!), and both would be reduced if our children drank less sugar “
The Denver Post reported that the local committee had voted unanimously to move the ordinance to the full council for consideration in the coming weeks. If signed into law, it would affect all restaurants and dining facilities in the city.
The Denver Post noted that some argue there is an “element of racial equity” in limiting these sugary drinks, which advocates say are “disproportionately marketed to communities and children of color.”
Giannina Estrada was one of many who spoke on behalf of ViVe Wellness, a nonprofit that educates low-income families about health.
Downtown Denver skyline, photographed from the rooftop of the Jacquard Hotel in Denver, Colorado, on November 15, 2018. (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
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“As you know, communities of color are at higher risk for diabetes. And when I go to these communities, they always have some type of testimony about a family member, themselves or a loved one who has diabetes,” he said via A translator. .
While the Colorado Restaurant Association has reportedly taken a neutral stance on the legislation, the organization's government affairs director Colin Larson said they are grateful the bill offers restaurants enough time to update your menus.
“Restaurants would have until July 1, 2025 to change their menus. Financial support would also be offered to offset the costs of updated marketing materials,” The Denver Post reported. “Depending on the presentation, restaurants could request up to $2,000 for those purposes.”
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Councilwoman Serena Gonzales-Guitterez, a co-sponsor of the legislation and a mother of three, argued that she wishes this type of policy existed when her own children were younger.
“Now they're at the age where, of course, they can read the menu and say, 'I know this place has soda or soda. I know they have the juice I want,'” the councilwoman said. “But when they were younger, I could definitely see the value of, as a parent, looking at a menu and saying, 'Well, these are our options.'”
