Denver City Council bans sugary drinks from restaurants’ kids meal menus
The Denver Metropolis Council on Tuesday accredited a brand new regulation requiring eating places that promote combo meals for kids to record solely milk, water or milk substitutes like almond milk because the default drink choices in these meals.
Candy drinks like soda, juice and flavored milk can nonetheless be supplied by request, however by July 1, 2025, each restaurant in Denver — from quick meals chains to impartial diners — should regulate their menus to take away these as listed choices for teenagers meals if they provide them.
The laws zeroes in on curbing the well being dangers of sugary drinks, Councilman Chris Hinds, one of many invoice’s sponsors, stated in short feedback forward of Tuesday’s vote. The ordinance passes unanimously as a part of the council’s consent agenda.
Hinds pushed again on the notion that measure takes away selections from customers.
“The thought right here is to nudge youngsters into doing the precise factor, to nudge mother and father into serving to youngsters to do the precise factor,” he stated. “On the finish of the day, if a guardian needs to present their youngsters soda, orange juice or flavored milk they’ll be capable of try this.”
Denver joins metro-area cities Lafayette, Longmont and Golden in having ordinances governing drink choices for teenagers. The states of California, Delaware and Hawaii even have related legal guidelines.
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