Mayors proposed soda ban hits a sour note in Southwest Brooklyn
Mayor Michael Bloomberg had New Yorkers chewing the fat once again when, on May 31, he announced plans to ban the sale of sugary drinks that are more than 16 ounces in size in such locations as restaurants, movie theaters and stadiums.
Bloomberg said that sugary drinks are a main cause of the countrys growing obesity epidemic and limiting the size of the beverages sold at locations across the city will help keep the problem at bay.
Limiting the size of sugary drinks to no more than 16 ounces at food service establishments will help us confront the obesity and diabetes epidemics, which now affect millions of New Yorkers, said Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley. This intervention will begin to curb the thousands of empty and unnecessary calories New Yorkers consume from sugary drinks every year, and educate people about the health risks they pose.