NYC bans supersized sodas at restaurants, theatres and concession stands

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NYC bans supersized sodas at restaurants, theatres and concession stands

NEW YORK, N.Y. - New York City cracked down on the sale of supersized sodas and other sugary drinks Thursday in what was celebrated by some as a groundbreaking attempt to curb obesity but condemned by others as a blatant intrusion into people's lives by a busybody mayor.

Public health experts around the nation — and the restaurant and soft-drink industry — will be watching closely to see how it goes over among New Yorkers, a famously disputatious bunch. Barring any court action, the measure will take effect in March.

The regulations, approved easily by the city Board of Health, apply to any establishment with a food-service license, including fast-food places, delis, movie and Broadway theatres, the concession stands at Yankee Stadium and the pizzerias of Little Italy. They will be barred from serving sugary beverages in cups or bottles larger than 16 ounces.

No other U.S. city has gone so far as to restrict portion sizes at restaurants to fight weight gain.

"We cannot continue to have our kids come down with diabetes at age 6," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The mayor rejected suggestions that the rule constitutes an assault on personal liberty. "Nobody is banning anything," he said, noting that restaurant customers can still buy as much soda as they want, as long as they are willing to carry it in multiple containers.

He said the inconvenience is well worth the potential public health benefit, and likened the city's actions to measures taken decades ago to phase out lead in household paint.

Others, though, likened the ban to Prohibition. A New York Times poll last month showed that six in 10 New Yorkers opposed the restrictions.

"It's a slippery slope. When does it stop? What comes next?" said Sebastian Lopez, a college student from Queens. He added: "This is my life. I should be able to do what I want."

The restrictions do not apply to supermarkets or most convenience stores, because such establishments are not subject to Board of Health regulation. And there are exceptions for beverages made mostly of milk or unsweetened fruit juice.

(Because convenience stores are exempt, the rules don't even apply to 7-Eleven's Big Gulp, even though the belly-busting serving of soda has become Exhibit A in the debate over Americans' eating habits.)

Some health experts said it isn't clear whether the ban will have any effect on obesity. But they said it might help usher in a change in attitude toward overeating, in the same way that many Americans have come to regard smoking as inconsiderate.

The regulations follow other ambitious health moves on Bloomberg's watch, many of which were attacked as a push toward a "nanny state."

Yet some have proved to be national trendsetters, such as making chain restaurants post calories on their menus. The city has also barred artificial trans fats in french fries and other restaurant food, cracked down on smoking and promoted breast-feeding over formula.

The Board of Health approved the big-soda ban 8-0, with one member, Dr. Sixto R. Caro, abstaining. Caro, a doctor of internal medicine, said the plan wasn't comprehensive enough.

Others spoke forcefully of the need for action to deal with an obesity crisis.

"I feel to not act would really be criminal," said board member Susan Klitzman, director of the Urban Public Health Program at Hunter College. City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley called the rule "a historic step to address a major health problem of our time."

The restaurant and beverage industries complained that the city is exaggerating the role sugary beverages have played in making Americans fat.

"This is a political solution and not a health solution," said Eliot Hoff, a spokesman for an industry-sponsored group called New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, which claims to have gathered more than 250,000 signatures on petitions against the plan.

He said the group is considering suing to block the rule.

"We will continue to voice our opposition to this ban and fight for the right of New Yorkers to make their own choices. And we will stand with the business owners who will be hurt by these arbitrary limitations," Hoff said in a statement.

Enforcement will be carried out by New York City's restaurant inspectors. Violations will carry a $200 fine.

Complying might prove complicated for some establishments.

Starbucks is trying to figure out whether the regulations bar it from selling its calorie-packed Frappuccinos in the 24-ounce size.

Another issue could be iced coffee, which many cafes sweeten with liquefied sugar. Customers might have to add the sweetener themselves.

Fast-food restaurants with self-serve soda fountains will be prohibited from giving out cups larger than 16 ounces, but people will still be allowed refills.

Manhattan pizza shop owner Vinnie Siena said halting sales of large sodas will hurt his already thin profit margin, unless he raises prices.

"I'm having a tough time as it is. They don't want the little guy to survive, it seems," he said.

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Read more: NYC bans supersized sodas at restaurants, theatres and concession stands
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What a waste of tax dollars and government resources. Will they be doing away with buffets? Extra cheese on pizza?
 
Pointless. Even after implementing this, the problem will still remain.
 
I glad that I don't live in NYC.

I rather to live in LA over NYC.
 
Guessing they'll need to make 10x the 16 oz. cups than they did before...and the 24 oz. cups will become "classics"....ain't gonna do any good here....:giggle:...refills, ya know?
 
I don't see it here (and it may not be true) but I read elsewhere that they banned buying more than one soda. If true I guess this means the group has to go to the concession stand together. SMH.
 
Now if only they could ban Rosie O'Donnell....NY, CA, I'm not particular where...

Laura
 
TXgolfer said:
I don't see it here (and it may not be true) but I read elsewhere that they banned buying more than one soda. If true I guess this means the group has to go to the concession stand together. SMH.
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:laugh2:...dunno what to say...oh well...
 
Why those laws? I know that our health is important, but is it our problem if a 6 years old gets diabetic? It's not our business to tell a 6 years old what to eat or drink to avoid diabetic. If they want to get sick, that is their choice.
 
dereksbicycles said:
Why those laws? I know that our health is important, but is it our problem if a 6 years old gets diabetic? It's not our business to tell a 6 years old what to eat or drink to avoid diabetic. If they want to get sick, that is their choice.
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Too much emphasis is placed on taste (which doesn't mean it's good for you), they don't realize they're setting up their bodies for weight gain and zero nutrients = future health problems.
 
Yes, it is fact and IMHO it is just another stupid law. I bet my ass, it will get worse not better. Why do we need government telling us what to do with our body?

And yes waste taxpayers dollars, NYC has the highest tax rate in the United States. Go figure!

TXgolfer said:
I don't see it here (and it may not be true) but I read elsewhere that they banned buying more than one soda. If true I guess this means the group has to go to the concession stand together. SMH.
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Reba said:
Shhh . . . don't give them any ideas!
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If I lived in NY and they banned buffets, I would drive to Jersey for a good buffet. Old Country Buffet or Golden Corral are decent. I miss going to a Chinese one I used to go to, since I moved.
 
saywhatkid said:
If I lived in NY and they banned buffets, I would drive to Jersey for a good buffet. Old Country Buffet or Golden Corral are decent. I miss going to a Chinese one I used to go to, since I moved.
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Golden Corral is very good here also, always packed with people tho'.
 
At theaters? That is a super bummer!!! Hope that stays in NY, oh wait what am I talking about I don't go to the movies anymore I don't care lol. but really, I always got the biggest one so we could share, those flipping drinks and popcorn is expensive!! Who in their righ tmind would drink 32 ounces of soda, by themselves, when they're going to have to sit through a 2 hour movie? My bladder would be busting.

But don't underestimate how much fat people put on by drinking soda. if all you did to change your diet, not starting exercise or anything, you'd lose 10 pounds in a year, just by stopping drinking soda. Diet soda is even worse for you. And if you think about, yes other people being obese does effect you, through what you pay for insurance. Obesity causes health problems, more fat people, more people needing treatment, which increases insurance costs. Will banning SUper sized sodas make a difference? Probably not, when they can just bring their fat ass back up and get a refill......maybe walking the extra distance back and forth to get refills will help them burn some calories :D
 
ambrosia said:
At theaters? That is a super bummer!!! Hope that stays in NY, oh wait what am I talking about I don't go to the movies anymore I don't care lol. but really, I always got the biggest one so we could share, those flipping drinks and popcorn is expensive!! Who in their righ tmind would drink 32 ounces of soda, by themselves, when they're going to have to sit through a 2 hour movie? My bladder would be busting.

But don't underestimate how much fat people put on by drinking soda. if all you did to change your diet, not starting exercise or anything, you'd lose 10 pounds in a year, just by stopping drinking soda. Diet soda is even worse for you. And if you think about, yes other people being obese does effect you, through what you pay for insurance. Obesity causes health problems, more fat people, more people needing treatment, which increases insurance costs. Will banning SUper sized sodas make a difference? Probably not, when they can just bring their fat ass back up and get a refill......maybe walking the extra distance back and forth to get refills will help them burn some calories :D
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Maybe they're trying to lower the population in NYC..?....can't get a refill?...then I'll move to another state!

Seriously, it would be best to drink just Water....
 
rockin'robin said:
Maybe they're trying to lower the population in NYC..?....can't get a refill?...then I'll move to another state!

Seriously, it would be best to drink just Water....
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word, but I do question governments stepping in and banning stuff. I don't have a problem with regulations though. People just will not help themselves. I worked with this girl that bitched everday about being fat. I can't get a boyfriend because I'm fat, my back hurts cause I'm fat etc etc. I never once saw anything healthy pass that woman's lips. Everday at lunch she's go to McD's, Burger King or have pizza lunchables.....how gross it that. I'm suprised I still have my tongue, I bit it so many times stopping myself from saying, Bitch please, I'm all out of cookies for you, have a f'n salad arleady my God!!!

The worst though is seeing kids that are 4 years old and weigh more than I do. Makes my heart cry for them, their parents should be doing something, but they're the problem. In light of that I can't critize the government wanting step in.
 
dont want be rude but are americans that stupid they dont realise for themselves these things are fating........have you not got enough problems with your goverment being that stupid
 
ambrosia said:
word, but I do question governments stepping in and banning stuff. I don't have a problem with regulations though. People just will not help themselves. I worked with this girl that bitched everday about being fat. I can't get a boyfriend because I'm fat, my back hurts cause I'm fat etc etc. I never once saw anything healthy pass that woman's lips. Everday at lunch she's go to McD's, Burger King or have pizza lunchables.....how gross it that. I'm suprised I still have my tongue, I bit it so many times stopping myself from saying, Bitch please, I'm all out of cookies for you, have a f'n salad arleady my God!!!

The worst though is seeing kids that are 4 years old and weigh more than I do. Makes my heart cry for them, their parents should be doing something, but they're the problem. In light of that I can't critize the government wanting step in.
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I have a hard time with chain smokers who slam eaters....

Oh well, live and let live. :wave:
 
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