Big soda ban: Bloomberg administration proposes ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces

[Dave]

Welcome to the Nanny State Of New York... well New York City anyway. I'm sure that Bloomberg in his heart thinks he's doing the right thing and simply trying to do the best for the citizens of the city of New York but at some point you still have to let people think for themselves. I sometimes wonder if the I after his name stands for 'idiot' instead of Independent.

It should be noted that Mayor Bloomberg followed up his announcement of the ban of larger sized sugary drinks with today taking part in national doughnut day festivities. Kind of thinking the Mayor don't have all his priorities right.

Mayor Bloomberg is a big soda scrooge.

After taking on smoking, trans-fats and restaurant calorie counts, Hizzoner has yet another health hazard in his crosshairs: oversized sugary drinks.

The city is working on a plan to ban large soft drinks and other sweet beverages in eateries, theaters and most other venues, City Hall announced Wednesday.

The new rules, which could take effect next March, would prohibit cups larger than 16 ounces of any liquid that contains more than 25 calories per 8 ounces. That targets sodas, sweetened ice tea and energy drinks. Diet sodas and milk-based beverages — even calorie laden milkshakes — will remain lawful.

“Obesity is a nationwide problem, and all over the United States, public health officials are wringing their hands saying, ‘Oh, this is terrible,’” Bloomberg told The New York Times. “New York City is not about wringing your hands; it’s about doing something.”

The ban will extend to food carts, delis, even concession stands in stadiums and arenas, but not supermarkets and grocery stores, according to the administration’s proposal.

Cups bigger than 16 ounces would disappear from self-serve fountains in fast-food joints, although refills would still be allowed.

The anti-sweet drinks crusade got a bitter reception from the beverage industry.

“There they go again. The New York City Health Department's unhealthy obsession with attacking soft drinks is again pushing them over the top,” said Stefan Friedman, spokesman for the New York City Beverage Association.

“The city is not going to address the obesity issue by attacking soda because soda is not driving the obesity rates,” he argued.

Some New Yorkers also thought the plan will fizzle out.

“He can try, but he can’t stop people from getting what they want,” said cabbie Morshed Chowbhury, 27, of Jackson Heights, Queens. “Some days I can’t survive without coffee or big sodas.”

Victor Diaz, 24, was more receptive to the upcoming regulation.

“It will all depend on the person. But at least he's trying to help New Yorkers eat better,” Diaz said of Bloomberg.

He added that he just opted for a Gatorade rather than a Big Gulp on a recent run to 7-Eleven, seemingly not realizing the sports drink will also be banned under the proposed program.

The mayor, who some disparage as Nanny Bloomberg for his plethora of prohibitions, has been waging a lengthy war against the soda scourge. During his time in office, he unsuccessfully lobbied for a state soda tax and tried to stop he purchase of soft drinks with food stamps.

The administration is planning to push the plan through the Board of Health, the same body that authorized restaurant letter grades and calorie count postings. No additional authorization is required, sources said.

If the big-drink dryout will pan out, people will still be able to buy a double dosage.

Helen O’Connor, 40, from SoHo, said she plans to do just that.

“He’s going overboard,” she said of the mayor.

“If I can’t buy one big drink, I’ll buy two smaller ones.”

With Edgar Sandoval

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Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/big-soda-ban-bloomberg...

[XLFD]

When Tour de France riders ride over a 100 miles per day for three weeks, they may need to eat up to 9000 calories just to keep up with what they are burning on the road.  That would be over 40 16 oz. bottles of Mountain Dew.  Yet, they are among the fittest athletes around.  You cannot regulate one aspect of health, without considering the rest, and there are plenty of variables for health. 

But this is what our government will try to do when it gains control of health care; look at actuarial tables and put out edicts regulating foods and activities. 

[masonco]

This happened in the early 80's

Once I had an extremely obese person attack me for smoking outside my car while I was at a rest stop. He yelled at me that I was destroying my lungs. I stated I was in better physical shape than he was being as he was totally out of breath after walking from the bathroom area. 

He said he was joining a campaign to outlaw smoking because it affected his lungs. I told him...as soon as they succeed in outlawing smoking, they would start outlawing obesity. Ummm if that young man is still alive today, I wonder if he remembers that conversation. BTW, he was in his early 20's and at least 600 pounds then.

[XLFD]

Frankly, I think people smoke and eat to excess because of all the stress placed on them through all the regulations and paperwork placed on them by our governments.  Let's get rid of all of these bureaucratic excesses and civil-rights-stealing politicians starting with Obamacare and Mayor Bloomberg immediately. 

[AQUAMAN]

Typical New York/Liberal attitude: when something doesn't pass muster for you at any given moment, start regulating and legislating for more foolish laws. Like this Bloomberg doesn't have higher priorities as Mayor right now? How about requiring schools getting kids back into physical education classes now discontinued mostly? And making adults more conscious of getting more exercise too. One of our past Presidents was very keen on this idea of a strong body making for a strong mind, JFK for one, and yes, he was a Dem. with common sense in his party affiliation. Bloomberg is nothing more than an inflated putz imo.

[masonco]

aqua well said

[Guidothesemipsuedocaptitalistpig]

Your right about the PT thing aqua.. but two things one at the current costs of Teachers PT was one of the first things cut to save $$ and any more hours of school or curriculum is highly controlled by the Unions mostly.

[Willy]

The Mayor of New York is an idiot, a liberal idiot but still an idiot.