Sugary Drink Poll Results
Sonora, CA — Two recent myMotherLode.com polls asked about taxing and putting health warning labels on sugary drinks. The results are at odds with a recent Field Poll of Californians.
A new Field Poll reported that California voters support taxing sugary drinks and requiring them to have health warning labels. The statewide survey asked if voters support the idea of having labels on soft drinks and sugary beverages that warn of diabetes, obesity and tooth decay, 52% said they “strongly support”, 22% “favor somewhat”, 14% “oppose strongly”, 11% “oppose somewhat” and 1% have “no opinion.”
The myMotherLode poll question asked, “Do you support health warning labels on sugary drinks?” The results were 42%, or 317 votes, for “Oppose Strongly”, 25% “Strongly Support”, 13% “favor somewhat”, 9% had no opinion and 8% “oppose somewhat”. The poll was posted on Thursday afternoon and changed Tuesday morning.
Democratic Sen. William Monning proposed SB1000 to require the warning on the front of all beverage containers with added sweeteners that have 75 or more calories in every 12 ounces. The label would read: “STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.” California could become the first state to require such warning labels. The SB1000 was introduced February 13th, the Feild Poll was conducted November 14th to December 5th, 2013 and released February 20th.
The Field Poll also asked California voters if they support placing a tax on the sale of sugary drinks, with proceeds going to school nutrition and physical activity programs, 46% said they “strongly support” the idea, 21% “favor somewhat”, 20% “oppose strongly”, 11% “oppose somewhat” and 2% have “no opinion.”
A myMotherLode poll question asked, “Do you suppor a tax on the sale of sugary drinks?” The results were 67% “oppose strongly”, 16% “strongly support”, 7% “favor somewhat”, 4% oppose somewhat and 3% “no opinion”. Two San Francisco supervisors proposed adding a $.02 tax for every ounce of sugar drinks.
