This week two local measures aimed at promoting consumer health in San Francisco moved forward — a law on disclosure of cell phone radiation and an alcohol tax.
On Tuesday the Associated Press reported on a new San Francisco law that requires cell phone retailers to post the amount of radiation emitted from handsets they sell. The ordinance requires stores to post the specific absorption rate of each phone. Though experts debate whether radiation from cell phones causes cancer or other health problems, advocates hope labels will dissuade consumers from buying high-emission phones until the matter is resolved.
And San Francisco might be California’s first city or county to put a tax on alcohol. On Wednesday the Associated Press reported on roughly a 5 cent tax per drink to recoup healthcare costs spent treating alcohol abusers. Proposed by Supervisor John Avalos on Tuesday, the tax is estimated to bring in $15 million a year to recover the costs of ambulance use and hospital visits from inebriates, as well as health department programs focusing on alcohol abuse. Public health director Mitch Katz told the AP that alcohol abuse takes a tremendous toll on the health care system.