New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposes to ban the sale of large sugary drinks.
New York City residents might be in for a shock if Mayor Michael Bloomberg follows through on his proposed ban of sugary drinks with more than 16-ounces in eateries.
The ban will affect restaurants, delis, food trucks, sports stadiums and movie theaters. It does not include grocery stores or convenience stores because they are ran by the state.
According to Long Island Business News, the ban will affect the sales of soda and sports drinks, but will not affect diet sodas, drinks with more than half milk or 70% juice. In a poll released Monday, about 53% of the public has been opposed to the ban, while 42% say it would be a good health policy.
“We didn’t propose it because we thought it would be popular, but it should come as no surprise that the numbers are so close since New Yorkers always have had an openness to bold ideas when taking on intractable problems,” said Marc La Vorgna, a spokesman for Bloomberg, in a statement to the Long Island Business News.
If approved by the Board of Health, the proposed ban might take effect as early as March 2013.