NYC Board of Health to vote today on Mayor Bloomberg's big soda ban

Under Mayor Bloomberg's proposal, sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces will not be sold at restaurants and other food establishments like movie theaters and sports venues.

/ CBS

(CBS News) New York City health officials are expected to decide today whether to enact Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to place a 16-ounce cap on sugary drinks sold throughout the city's restaurants and other eateries.

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If approved, New York City residents and tourists will no longer be able to purchase fountain or bottled sugary drinks at restaurants, fast food chains, delis, movie theaters, sports venues and street carts beginning in March, 2013. That would eliminate popular 20-ounce bottles or 32-ounce fountain options from such establishments that fall under Board of Health's jurisdiction.

People would still be able to purchase two-liters and other large-sized drinks at grocery and convenience stores which are exempt from the ban. Those who buy drinks at locations where the ban is in place also have the option to purchase additional 16-ounce beverages.

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New York City's ban on big sodas

The mayor's proposal has been met by both praise from health advocates and criticism from the beverage industry and those crying foul of a nanny state overstepping its bounds.

Last week, dieting heavyweights Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig came out in support of the proposal.

''Today, we live in a world where despite our best intentions, it's oftentimes very difficult on your own to make the healthy choice,'' said David Burwick, president of Weight Watchers North America said at a press conference with the mayor last week. ''We all need to take more personal responsibility for our own weight and eating habits, but it helps to remember what a healthy portion size is in a world where super-size portions have become the norm.''

New Yorkers for Beverage Choices said in a statement last Tuesday that, "New Yorkers are smart enough to make their own decisions," adding that a ban won't address the complex causes of the obesity issue.

At a July hearing, advocates on both side of the issue engaged in a public debate on the merits of the ban. Health Experts argued soda in large amounts may be toxic to the body's metabolic system, and a 20-ounce sugary drink - the caloric equivalent of a McDonald's hamburger - would be easier to over-consume than food.

Joy Dubost, a nutritionist who works for the National Restaurant Association, said during that debate that the proposal wasn't backed up by scientific evidence and, "It's not reasonable to blame or cite one product."

Other critics questioned why sugary drinks were being targeted while some city schools don't even have physical education classes.

In New York City, more than half of adults are overweight or obese and nearly one in five kindergarten students are obese, according to the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Besides eating more calories than you burn, inactivity, genetics and family history, environmental factors like advertising, access to walking areas or healthy foods are all potential causes of obesity.

[barryishere]

As long as governments pay to cure or treat obesity, they should also have the right to prevent obesity. The more government gets into our medical lives, the more they will get into our social lives.

I would rather see governments keep out of our lives. But, the people want cake and must take the calories with it.

[Soapy-Johnson]

It gets worse -- Mayor Bloomberg to ban cannibals in New York City from eating anyone over 5-foot-4 -- http://placeitonluckydan.com/2012/07/mayor-bloomberg-ban-cannibals-nyc-eating-5-foot-4/

[GryphonDLH]

I find it mind boggling that an issue of such priority, such high risk to the general public, and creating such a burden on our health care system was not addressed under the first two terms of Mr. Bloomberg. It was not until he became KING BLOOMBERG after changing the charter allowing for a third term, that it is presented! This is a money making scheme people are not going to stop buying large sodas they'll just buy two smalls, increasing taxes, increasing garbage and litter, increasing the count of "can people" picking thru our garbage pails, creating another fine to impose on the small business owner.... EDUCATION is the key, not restrictions, not fines, The restriction in restaurants in my opinion will impact the tourism revenue, slightly but we can't afford to give up anything. I just don't believe if all the pluses and minuses were calculated it would considered beneficial.

[angst1111]

Sieg Heil!

[jhof88]

Why not treat soda the same way we treat cigarettes: tax them, and/or require buyers to be a certain age (but mostly the first one). Then use the money from taxes to pay for healthcare for the people who drink too much anyway and get diabetes. Reducing size won't really help much anyway, people can still buy 2-liters, can still get free refills at fast food places, etc, but if you tax it and make people pay MORE for soda than water, then they'll start to think with their wallets.

[P_Henry13]

Bloomberg supports illegal immigration yet has a problem with soft drinks. What a joke.

[Robert_Marcos]

The government MUST ACT to save overweight people who CLEARLY have not acted to save themselves.

[umby18]

Couldnt disagree w/ you more Robert. This is MY life, not the governments!

[redought]

Stay on your leash little puppy.

[magnumdr]

Here we go again with the Hitler type Government in NYC. This Mayor has to be put in his place. He has no right to regulate or control the size of a soda a resturant can sell. This can't be for real, must be some kinda joke!

[liveloveforgod]

Soda is not the problem, it has been around for over 100 years with no obesity problem. The real problem is the governent allowed food chemicals which cause weight gain.

The food was changed in the USA, UK and Australia 30 years ago when dangerous food chemicals from the USA was allowed into Europe. The food today causes stubborn insulin If you have stubborn insulin you hold fat and have a hard time losing weight.

You can eat very little and the weight still does not come off. Stubborn insulin will hold fat and diets will not work. When researchers used a specialized diabetes diet on overweight people all lost weight even those who did not have diabetes.

just google SPIRIT HAPPY DIET