Mayor Bloomberg plans to eliminate sugary drinks in New York City

The ban causes backlash

Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to eliminate sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces in restaurants, movie theaters, food carts and ballpark concessions, has received many critical remarks.

Bloomberg announced yesterday his plan on the citywide ban that could take in effect as soon as next March. According to the Health Department, more than half of the adults in New York City are overweight or obese.

“We’ve got to do something about it…everybody’s ringing their hands saying ‘We’ve got to do something.’ Well here is a concrete thing,” said Mayor Bloomberg.

The overreaching ban implemented by Bloomberg has gained a lot of criticism. Bettina Elias of the Huffington Post wrote, “Forbidding people outright to buy the size of soda they desire strikes me as quite paternalistic and intrusive.”

Her article goes on to claiming the ban doesn’t really do anything. Re-fills will have the same effect of drinking more than 16 ounces. Siegel states the root of the problem is “agricultural subsidies that have resulted in a liter bottle of Coke being cheaper than a similar sized container of skim milk.”

Political pundit, Jon Stewart, made fun of Bloomberg’s attempt to curb New York’s obesity.

“Wow. Wow. Wow, Mayor Bloomberg. Wow…I love this idea you have of banning soda…It combines the draconian government overreach people love with the probable lack of results they expect!”

Bloomberg was quoted saying in an interview with MSNBC, “They can still sell the 32-ounces of the sugar drink to you but put it in two containers…you have to make the conscious decision to go from one cup to another.”

Stewart jokingly remarks, “Mr. Mayor, without these giant cups where are homeless people going to s***? You tellin’ them to take two smaller s***? Cuz I’m not!”

Not everyone is opposed to Bloomberg’s ban, NBC’s TODAY dietician and health expert, Joy Bauer said, “I actually support the ban…It’s a good compromise because the law wouldn’t completely take away these sugary drinks, but it limits portions and forces people to think twice before drinking more.”

According to NBC New York, the proposal is to be submitted to the board on June 12, and it is to undergo a three-month comment period before board votes. Other establishments such as restaurants get six months before violations will be issued. Violation fines can go as high as $200.