NY city's Soda "Ban"

This post isn't quite environmental, but anyone in New York City or heading to NYC will be affected by the soda "ban".  I put ban in "quotes" because nowhere in the measure does it ban the sale or consumption of soda itself, just the size of the cup that is sold in.

According to the Centers of Disease and Prevention, about 1/3 of Americans are considered obese (obesity = body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 - calculate your BMI here). Obesity causes numerous health issues such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers just to name a few. Obesity is preventable and providing healthcare is costly. In the wake of America's fight against obesity, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to ban the sale of soda's that are 16 ounces or more is passed by the New York City's Board of Health, the first law of its kind in the country.

What does this law entail?

1) The law does not allow restaurants, fast-food joints, delis, movie theaters, sports stadiums, or food carts from selling sugary drinks in amounts larger than 16 ounces (~0.5 liters). Most places won't be allowed to stock cups that are larger than 16 ounces.

Picture taken from http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/brainwashing-starts-with-this-two-letter-word-7035/

2) It's not a ban on soda, it's a cap on the size of soda that you will be allowed to purchase. You are still allowed to drink as much soda you wish, the catch here is that you'll need to get a refill.

3) Fruit juices, beverages that are over 50% dairy-based, alcohol, and diet sodas won't be affected.

4) The law goes into effect in six months, March 12, 2013

I understand how people are against this measure because it oversteps our ability to make free choices for ourselves i.e. Big Brother is yanking our 16 ounce soda off the shelves! Who is to say that we can or cannot consume over 16 ounces of soda? On the other side of the argument, should we have to pay for other people's healthcare because so many are sick because of their inability to lose weight. And by putting a cap on how much soda one can purchase may deter them from drinking an excessive amount of sugar? I am going to remain politically neutral for this blog, so that argument is for you to decide and brew over.

More articles about the soda measure can be read here, here, and here.

*** Update 3/11/13

New York State Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling puts a block on the sugary drink ban in New York!!!! The soda ban would have went into effect tomorrow if passed.

Read more about it on CNN here