(PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo.) — Pueblo County is looking to potentially ban soft drinks from kids’ meals through a statewide initiative program.
Healthy Beverages for All focuses on decreasing excessive consumption of sugary drinks through education and municipal policy to prevent chronic diseases. On Monday, May 12, the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) presented to the City Council during their work session, where they introduced the initiative.
PDPHE explained that sugary drinks are one of the leading causes of chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and tooth decay. The program would introduce a city ordinance policy that would only affect bundled kids’ meals that offer drinks.
“Sugary drinks are the largest source of added sugar in the American diet, so it’s a growing problem, unfortunately,” said Project Lead Gabby Stapleton.
According to a community health assessment, 24% of Pueblo children between the ages of one and 14 consume sugar-sweetened beverages once or more times per day, compared to 15% of Colorado children.
“We are hoping to create a new standard for drinks that are offered by all food establishments,” said Stapleton. “…We are hoping that they [food establishments] will change their advertising to include only water, unsweetened milk, or a milk alternative if they choose with that bundled meal.”
PDPHE pointed out that most kids’ menus offer a variety of options such as milk, juice, and fountain drinks. The policy hopes that water would “at least by included as the automatic beverage.”
“I’m all about keeping your kids healthy, but as a parent, I’m the one in control of that,” Regina Maestri said during the work session.
Overall, 96 restaurants would be affected by the policy if passed; 34 local and 62 chain restaurants. PDPHE is in the process of visiting all the chain food establishments and all local restaurants have been visited.
“This isn’t to strip parental choice as they said, this would not strip any choice. This would just set the default as a healthy option,” said councilmember Brett Boston. “Those other choices are still readily available and an option that is able to be chosen.”
If approved, the City would change the restaurants’ kids’ menu and advertising, but it does not take away a parent’s choice, who can order any beverage they want for their child, regardless of what is on the menu.
The policy has already been introduced in various areas in Colorado, with Lafayette passing it in 2017, and Denver and Louisville passing it in 2024. Check out the initiative in the link above.
