Cincinnati City Council might ban listing soda pop on kids' menus, a measure already in place in other large U.S. cities.

Under what's being called "healthy beverage legislation," only milk, water and drinks that are 100% fruit juice could be listed on children's menus. Other options such as soft drinks would still be available, just not listed. It would apply to all restaurants in Cincinnati that serve kids' meals, including chain restaurants.

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The goal is to make it easier for parents to choose healthy options for their children, according to the legislation's sponsors, council members Greg Landsman and Meeka Owens.

Cincinnati City Councilman Mark Jeffreys tweeted about the idea Monday. The idea could come to council as soon as next week.

Landsman said city health department leaders approached him with the idea last fall.

Led by the American Heart Association, a statewide coalition of doctors, children's advocates, and restaurant and business representatives have been discussing the idea and working with other Ohio cities to enact legislation like this to fight childhood obesity.  

Pop "just can't be the default drink on a kid's menu," Landsman said.

Dustin Holfinger, the state government relations director for the American Heart Association, said the legislation does not take options away.

Under the legislation, restaurants that fail to comply would first get a warning. Second violations would result in a $75 fine, which is cut in half if the restaurant complies with the law. Fines will likely increase for subsequent violations, but those details are still being worked out.

Tod Bowen, managing director of external affairs and government relations for the Ohio Restaurant Association, said he appreciates that the city worked with the restaurant association ahead of drafting legislation and found it to be a collaborative process. 

"I believe they have produced a piece of legislation that accomplishes what they are doing, which is provide healthy choices in kids' meals in a way restaurants that offer kids meals, can do," Bowen said.

"Generally speaking those restaurants that offer kids meals have been doing this on a voluntarily basis for several years," Bowen said. "This is codifying what the majority of restaurants are already doing."

In other states, local restaurant groups have said that while they back the goals, the mandates would impose new costs – like reprinting menus – on restaurants when they are still struggling to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Other cities in Ohio and across the country have already enacted similar laws.

Cleveland enacted the change back in 2020, with it going into effect this year. Columbus, Youngstown and Toledo have also done it, Holfinger said.

Baltimore was the first big city to ban sugary drinks from appearing on kids' menus, passing a law in 2018. On Jan. 6, the New Orleans City Council passed a similar law, which will go into affect next year.

The state of California, in 2019, did it too.