Hawaii Lawmakers Reject Sugary Beverage Warning Label And Tax

HONOLULU -- The Health Committee of the Hawaii House of Representatives has rejected legislation that would require sugary beverages to include warning labels after small businesses and consumers testified against the measure.

The House and Senate Health committees decided in mid-February to defer HB1438 and SB1270, which effectively killed the measures for the legislative session.

The legislation would have required sugary beverages to include a warning on beverages stating: "Drinking beverages with added sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.

" The Senate Health Committee also deferred SB1256, which would have imposed a penny per ounce tax on beverages with added sugar. The move also effectively killed the bill for the current legislative session. Its House counterpart, HB1439, was not heard by the House Health Committee. This marks the fourth failure in five years for the proposed tax hike.

Supporters of the legislation say the bills will help fight obesity but critics say they unfairly single out beverages that have added sugar.