News
New York soda ban may spur other cities
New York City’s move to ban the sale of large sodas has renewed debate about soft drinks and obesity, with the possibility that other cities could follow suit. But it’s unclear how far other local governments will go in restricting sodas, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
New York’s new rule would make it illegal to serve sweetened drinks larger than 16 ounces in restaurants, movie theaters, stadium concession stands and other establishments that receive inspection grades from the city health department. The ban, pushed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is the broadest soft-drink restriction in the country.
Following New York’s announcement, members of Washington, D.C.’s City Council said they may impose soft drink restrictions of their own. The mayor of Cambridge, Mass., also proposed restrictions similar to New York’s.
Since 2009, according to the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, municipalities and states across the nation have taken steps to limit or tax sugar-sweetened drinks. Thirteen cities and counties have banned the drink sales on municipal property, while 19 states and eight cities have proposed excise taxes on the drinks.
But on Election Day, voters in the California cities of El Monte and Richmond overwhelmingly rejected proposals to raise revenues by taxing sugary drinks. The measures’ defeat, backed by a reported $4 million campaign by the soft-drink industry, mirrors other unsuccessful efforts by local governments to restrict or tax sugary drinks.
The beverage industry is also fighting back in court. The American Beverage Association and other industry groups filed a lawsuit to block the New York City soft-drink ban, which is scheduled to take effect in March.
The prospect of legal challenges could dissuade other cities as well. Local governments will likely be reluctant to follow New York’s lead because cities “will not follow a bad idea,” John Sicher, editor and publisher of Beverage Digest, told the Journal-Constitution.
so people everywhere will be
so people everywhere will be allowed to smoke pot, but not have a soda!?!? This is insane! I really don’t need the government telling me what I can / can not eat or drink…crazy.
Now–If only someone could
Now–If only someone could CHALLENGE NYC’s #1 “Dirtiest American City” (TRAVEL+LEISURE) and mayor Bloomberg, to get the city CLEAN of unremoved litter and debris, from miles of public spaces!
When will this BS stop!
When will this BS stop! People in this country are not going to lose weight until they take personal responsiblity. (A lack of exercize is the real reason people are getting fat!) Basically where we are headed is that you/citizen will be locked in a room with someone else determining what food you will eat, what you will drink and what you will say. Enough already!
Good grief. We really need to
Good grief. We really need to be saved from ourselves, don’t we? Good bye free will. Isn’t that what separates humans from animals? Some rights to “choose” are sacrosanct, but others can be taken from us whether we like it or not.
Instead of trying to ban what
Instead of trying to ban what people can buy, why don’t you push for some personal responsibility for parents. Make them a little more responsible for not having fast food every night of the week and buying such large amounts of food and soda! It most definitely is NOT just the soda that is making America fat!