Food establishments which sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises required to post signs concerning birth defects; exception.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, each food establishment in which alcoholic beverages are sold by the drink for consumption on the premises shall post at least one sign that meets the requirements of this section in a location conspicuous to the patrons of the establishment. The conspicuous location described in this subsection may include, without limitation, a women’s restroom that is located within the establishment.
2. Each sign required by subsection 1 must be not less than 8 1/2 by 11 inches in size and must contain a notice in boldface type that is clearly legible and, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a) of subsection 4, in substantially the following form:
Drinking wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
El consumo de vino, cerveza y otras bebidas alcohólicas durante el embarazo puede causar defectos físicos y/o mentales en el feto.
3. The letters in the words “HEALTH WARNING” and “¡ADVERTENCIA!” in the sign must be written in not less than 40-point type, and the letters in all other words in the sign must be written in not less than 30-point type.
4. The Health Division of the Department of Human Resources may:
(a) Provide by regulation for one or more alternative forms for the language of the warning to be included on the signs required by subsection 1 to increase the effectiveness of the signs. Each alternative form must contain substantially the same message as is stated in subsection 2.
(b) Solicit and accept the donation of signs that satisfy the requirements of this section from a nonprofit organization or any other source. To the extent that such signs are donated, the Health Division shall distribute the signs upon request to food establishments that are required to post the signs.
5. A food establishment is not required to post the sign otherwise required by this section if the food establishment provides to its patrons a food or drink menu that contains a notice, in boldface type that is clearly legible and not less than the size of the type used for the items on the menu, in substantially the same form and language as is set forth in subsection 2 or authorized pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection 4.
6. As used in this section, “alcoholic beverage” means:
(a) Beer, ale, porter, stout and other similar fermented beverages, including, without limitation, sake and similar products, of any name or description containing one-half of 1 percent or more of alcohol by volume, brewed or produced from malt, wholly or in part, or from any substitute therefor.
(b) Any beverage obtained by the fermentation of the natural content of fruits or other agricultural products containing sugar, of one-half of 1 percent or more of alcohol by volume.
(c) Any distilled spirits commonly referred to as ethyl alcohol, ethanol or spirits of wine in any form, including, without limitation, all dilutions and mixtures thereof from whatever process produced.
Last modified: February 26, 2006