Judge Stops NYC’s Large Soda Ban

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is creating quite stir with his campaign to ban large sodas. In the latest chapter of the soda battle, a judge struck down the ban days before it was supposed to go into effect. The ban would outlaw soda, fruit smoothies, energy drinks and other sweet beverages served in containers 16 ounces or larger. Bloomberg has said the ban is a necessary step to thwart obesity in the U.S.

Judge Stops Ban
State Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling stopped the ban in its tracks saying the ban only applies to certain kinds of sugary drinks.

“The loopholes in this rule effectively defeat the stated purpose of this rule,” Tingling wrote in his ruling.

Some coffee drinkers say the ban is ridiculous and are glad the judge struck the ban down.

“I think it’s stupid,” Mary Elizabeth Quinn, 58, of Rumson, N.J., told ABC News while at a Starbucks near the Lincoln Center on New York City’s Upper West Side. She said she often orders towering iced mochas. “People should be able to drink whatever the hell they want.”

Bloomberg Fires Back
In a news conference following the court ruling, Bloomberg said, “We’re talking about lives versus profits.”

“If we are serious about fighting obesity, we have to be honest about what causes it.”

“While other people wring their hands … in New York City we’re doing something about it… It would be irresponsible not to try to do everything we can to save lives,” he said.

According to Huffington Post, the city also issued a statement saying, “The rule is designed to make consumption of large amounts of sugary drinks a conscious and informed choice by the consumer. Thus, although a consumer is free to consume more than 16 ounces by ordering a second drink, getting a refill, or going to another store, he or she will be making an informed choice.”

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