NY Bans Suggary Soda

Following in the footsteps of sugar awareness campaigns and calorie display mandates, New York has become the first city to ban the selling of soft drinks over 16oz according to a Los Angeles Times article.  According to one poll, New Yorkers are split 53% to 42% opposed vs in favor of the ban, group that adamantly against the ban and looking to pursue legal action against it are restaurants, delis, cinemas, sports venues, and food trucks.  Luckily for Mayor Bloomberg, he chose the right city to implement the ban in as a lower percentage of New Yorkers oppose the ban than a nation wide poll showed.

"Depending on the point of view, the rule is a violation of basic human rights; a measure to protect children from lives of diabetes, heart disease and other ills; an economic misstep; or a necessary move toward curbing New York’s obesity problem."  Others opposed to the ruling say that the money spent enforcing could more effectively be used on other projects including after school programs that emphasize education and physical activity or healthy eating.

This is not the first time that Bloomberg has limited or banned items in the guise of public health, ex cigarettes and artificial fats.  The implications of the government forcing maximums and limits are scary, but so is the alternative of near a whole population of unhealthy and overweight individuals.