NYC Mayor Suggests A Ban On The Sale Of Oversized Sodas
NEW YORK – Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Wednesday that he wanted a ban placed on the sale of large sugary drinks and sodas to combat the growing obesity crisis.
His announcement echoed across the nation as health experts, talk-show hosts and companies in the beverage industry deliberated over the country’s first-ever proposal.
The soda ban would impose a size limit of 16-ounces on sugary drinks sold by street carts, restaurants, sports venues and movie theaters – the ban would apply to both fountain sodas and bottled drinks.
On Wednesday, Bloomberg said that he believed that this is what the public wants him to do.
Stefan Friedman, a spokesman for the New York City Beverage Association, called Bloomberg’s proposal “zealous,” and said that city officials should look for solutions that will actually curb the obesity problem.
Businesses nation-wide in the soft drink, food, and beverage industries quickly issued statements, except for Pepsi, which declined to comment.
The Coca-Cola company said in a statement that New Yorkers deserve better than this, and are capable of making up their own minds about what beverages they choose to buy – the company hopes that New Yorkers will loudly disapprove of the mandate.
McDonald’s said that the ban was narrowly focused and misguided and will not effectively address public health issues – the topic is too complex and requires a more comprehensive and collaborative approach.
John Sicher, the editor and publisher of Beverage Digest agreed that Bloomberg’s proposal is misguided and added it is insulting to New Yorkers because they can decide what they want to drink on their own. As well, he noted that calories consumed from sodas have gone down over 20 percent in the last ten years.
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Posted by Chris Amos
on Jun 1 2012. Filed under Well-Being.
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