SACRAMENTO – This week the California Senate could take a bill by state Sen. Bill Monning that would require warning labels on drinks with added sweeteners that have 75 or more calories per 12 ounces, reports Reuters.

The label would read: “STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.”

"This is a major victory for public health advocates, community groups, physicians, and dentists," said Monning, author of the bill, after it passed the Senate Appropriations Committee last Friday by a 5 –2 vote. "By informing consumer choice, we can improve the health of Californians."

The California Nevada Beverage Association issued a statement agreeing that obesity is a serious issue, but that soft drinks are unfairly being blamed as the sole culprit: “[I]t is misleading to suggest that soft-drink consumption is uniquely responsible for weight gain. In fact, only 4 percent of calories in the average American diet are derived directly from soda. According to government data, foods, not beverages, are the top source of sugars in the American diet.”

The California Senate must vote on the bill by May 30.