If you’re hoping to wander into a McDonald’s in New York City and order the largest soda you can, you may be out of luck. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and several prominent city officials are pushing for a ban on super sized sugary drinks, with a measure that would block eateries from selling high-sugar drinks in cups bigger than 16 ounces. Bloomberg hopes the ban would help to fight the growing obesity problem in New York City, but critics are calling foul. Representatives of the beverage industry, restaurant industry, and various other business groups are arguing that the ban may be illegal, and that the bill could cost many businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Nearly 6,000 people die from obesity in New York City every year, and Mayor Bloomberg hopes this measure could be the first step to helping to fight this growing problem.
What This Means For New York
For New Yorkers worrying that the measure would affect their morning coffee, worry not. The measure would not affect coffee, alcoholic beverages, unsweetened juices, and milkshakes. Additionally, the measure would not affect supermarkets and convenience stores, which critics are calling unfair, arguing that local eateries could lose business to stores that are allowed to carry large sugary drinks.
Furthermore, critics claim that the measure could cost beverage-makers about $600,000 in labeling and various expenses, and would cut into soda sales that represent about 20 percent of movie theater profits. Regardless, proponents of the measure are confident that it will pass. The city promises that businesses will be given ample time to prepare for the measure. After allowing businesses to prepare for the ban, the city promises it will issue $200 fines to businesses that don’t follow the rules.
In the meanwhile, a collective of businesses fighting the measure have filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the measure. The case was presented to Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling, who has yet to issue a ruling or say when he would. If he sides with the city, this will be the first ever law of it’s kind. But critics have vowed to fight the case the whole way.
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