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New York City Moves To Ban Large Sodas

Matt Pressberg |
May 31, 2012 | 4:09 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Large sodas would be banned. (Russell Bernice/Flickr)
Large sodas would be banned. (Russell Bernice/Flickr)
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a vocal anti-obesity advocate, has proposed wide-reaching legislation banning restaurants, sports facilities and movie theaters from serving large sodas and sugary drinks. As the Associated Press reports:

"The ban is expected to win approval from the Bloomberg-appointed Board of Health and take effect as soon as March. City officials said they believe it will ultimately prove popular and push governments around the U.S. to adopt similar rules.

The ban would apply only to sweetened drinks over 16 ounces that contain more than 25 calories per 8 ounces. (A 12-ounce can of Coke has about 140 calories. Plastic bottles of Coke and other soft drinks often contain 20 ounces.)

It would not affect diet soda, any drink that's at least 70 percent juice, or one that is at least half milk or milk substitute. Nor would it apply to drinks sold in many supermarkets or convenience stores. Businesses would face fines of $200 per failed inspection.

City officials said some calorie-heavy drinks such as Starbucks Frappuccinos would probably be exempted because of their dairy content, while Slurpees and Big Gulp drinks at 7-Eleven wouldn't be affected because the convenience stores are regulated as groceries.

Bloomberg said people who want to guzzle soda would still be free to order more than one drink"

Bloomberg has notably taken on tobacco and trans-fats during his health crusading, but this proposal may be his most ambitious and controversial yet. The New York Times has more context:

"The Bloomberg administration had made previous, unsuccessful efforts to make soda consumption less appealing. The mayor supported a state tax on sodas, but the measure died in Albany, and he tried to restrict the use of food stamps to buy sodas, but the idea was rejected by federal regulators.

With the new proposal, City Hall is now trying to see how much it can accomplish without requiring outside approval. Mayoral aides say they are confident that they have the legal authority to restrict soda sales, based on the city’s jurisdiction over local eating establishments, the same oversight that allows for the health department’s letter-grade cleanliness rating system for restaurants"

It is undeniable that large sodas are unhealthy, but questions remain about the wisdom of spending money to enforce a law like this, which plays neatly into "nanny state" criticisms held by those who support a less involved government.

Reach Executive Producer Matt Pressberg here.




 

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