Bill Text: NJ A5521 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires that warning notices regarding certain health risks of alcohol consumption be reviewed and updated.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-04-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee [A5521 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A5521-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman BARBARA MCCANN STAMATO
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman JESSICA RAMIREZ
District 32 (Hudson)
Assemblyman REGINALD W. ATKINS
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Requires that warning notices regarding certain health risks of alcohol consumption be reviewed and updated.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning warning notices regarding the health risks of alcohol consumption and amending P.L.1993, c.43.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1993, c.43 (C.33:1-12a) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. A person who holds a Class C license, except a plenary retail transit license, or a club license shall ensure that a warning notice [prepared] developed by the Commissioner of the Department of Health [and Senior Services] , in accordance with subsection b. of this section, is posted prominently in any service area as well as on a wall, towel dispenser , or other appropriate location in any public rest room for [women] patrons on the licensed premises. The notice shall warn patrons of the health risks of alcohol consumption and that alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been determined to be harmful to the fetus and can cause birth defects, low birth weight , and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which is one of the leading causes of intellectual disabilities.
b. Within six months of the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the commissioner shall update the warning notice required under subsection a. of this section to reflect the most current information available regarding the health risks of alcohol consumption, which shall include but not be limited to, the consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure and the link between alcohol consumption and certain cancers. The commissioner shall develop the warning notice in consultation with appropriate medical and scientific experts, professional organizations, and advocacy groups.
c. Not more than five years after reviewing and developing the notice as required under subsection b. of this section, the commissioner shall review the medical and scientific literature on the health risks of alcohol exposure and update the warning notice, if necessary, to reflect the most recent information to promote the public health and welfare. Thereafter, the commission shall review and revise, if necessary, the notice as required under this section within five years of the previous review.
(cf: P.L.2010, c.50, s.61)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of the Department of Health to update the warning notice regarding the adverse effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy within six months of the effective date of this bill, and at least every five years thereafter, to reflect the most recent information available concerning the health risks of alcohol consumption, including the consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure and the link between alcohol consumption and certain cancers.
Under current law, all Class C (retail sales) and club alcoholic beverage license holders, except for plenary retail transit license holders, are to prominently post warnings prepared by the Department of Health about the adverse effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in service areas and certain restrooms on their premises. The warning notice is intended to warn patrons regarding the health risks associated with the consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.
This bill requires the commissioner to update the warning notice in consultation with appropriate medical and scientific experts, appropriate professional organizations, and advocacy groups.
According to the sponsor, the current warning notice regarding the health dangers of alcohol consumption has not been updated in over a decade. In that time, scientific and medical understanding has increased substantially. The sponsor provides that it is in the public's best interest to have up-to-date information on health and safety issues.
