Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons

“The humor kind of escapes [him],” Mayor Bloomberg says of the “Million Big Gulp March” in protest of his proposed soda ban. This weekend New Yorkers for Beverage Choices took to the streets to urge Bloomberg to let them put what they want into their bodies.

Bloomberg referenced obesity and obesity-related deaths in the City, saying those who opt to drink that much sugar are merely killing themselves. He also pointed to an article in the Financial Times regarding whether the Olympics should be sponsored by McDonalds and Coca Cola, neither of which are exactly the image of health.

Bloomberg also cited statistics about hospitals having to accommodate larger individuals, reports Capital New York, to make a point about our nation’s obesity trajectory. The Mayor said obesity is going to be “worse than smoking ever was.”

Pictures of the protest in the Daily Mail show tons of children taking part in the demonstration, Big Gulp cups full of sugary liquid in hand. It’s what economists call “the law of unintended consequences,” or in layman’s terms: I’m going to do the exact opposite of what you tell me to do.

Bloomberg’s exasperated reaction to the protest of his downsizing campaign is a straightforward “let them kill themselves.”

—Alissa Fleck

Bloomberg Says Beware - photo by DeusXFlorida

It was welcomed by many New Yorkers when it was brought to our attention in May, but Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to restrict the purveyance of 16 oz. sodas has, with no surprise, angered soda companies, movie theaters, and restaurants.

Major companies like Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola, in conjunction with many stores in the New York area created the New Yorkers for Beverages Choice to combat the mayor’s latest efforts, and has a large following.

The coalition, according to its site, is comprised of 434 members, and has 12784 supportive petitioners.

Sponsored by the American Beverage Association, the coalition released a series of television and radio ads emphasizing a New Yorker’s right to choice.

“This is New York City. No one tells us what neighborhood to live in, what team to live in, or what deli to eat at,” the television ad begins. “So are we going to let our mayor tell us what size beverage to buy?”

“This is about protecting our freedom of choice.”

“It’s unbelievable, once again (the mayor) is telling us what we can and can’t have,” the radio ad echoes.

“I’m perfectly capable of choosing what size beverage to get.”

The sentiment isn’t alone, either.

Councilwoman Letitia James is also against the ban.

“After talking with business owners and residents… I believe the ban would be arbitrarily and unfairly applied,” James said, according to the Prospect Heights Patch.

James says that the city should combat obesity with parks, not bans.

The New York City Board of Health, whose members are appointed by the mayor, will vote on the ban on July 24, which could go into effect in March 2013.

–Nick Gallinelli