When it comes to fighting against multi-billionaire big soda companies, not many public figures can do that much about it. Mayor Bloomberg on the other hand enjoys a powerful status that might help him win in the war against big soda. New York is looking at a ban for sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces.
More and more cities gave started several campaigns to reduce the risk of obesity. Besides awareness and education, there’s really not that much city officials can do without banning products. Mayor Michael Bloomberg decided New York City had enough and made a proposal that will ban all sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces.
It might seem like a pretty unusual fight for a mayor, but Bloomberg’s war against big soda really makes sense. Of course, he’s going to have to put through all the scrutiny of the opposition as well as the determination of big soda companies to stay in the market. Fighting obesity with its main producers is no easy task.
In an interview for MSNBC, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said: “The idea here is you tend to eat all the food in the container in front of you. If it’s a bigger container, you eat more. If somebody put a smaller glass or plate or bowl in front of you, you would eat less”.
If Bloomberg’s proposal becomes law, then thousands of venues will have to take jumbo-sized sodas of the menu. This includes anything from restaurants to movie theaters and basically just about any place that serves food and drink.
Obviously, Bloomberg’s proposal already hit opposition, with Bill Wilson, president for Americans For Limited Government, saying that: “New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s micromanaging Nanny State strikes again”. He also accused Bloomberg of overstepping its governmental authority and making NY “a rival to California as a lab rat of sorts for the latest Big Government intrusions that end up as federal government policies”.
Coca-Cola also had quite an exaggerated reaction, accusing indirectly Bloomberg for not giving New York City citizens the right to choose. “New Yorkers expect and deserve better than this. They can make their own choices about the beverages they purchase” reads Coca-Cola’s statement. “We hope New Yorkers loudly voice their disapproval about this arbitrary mandate”.
