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

Photo courtesy of Flickr Commons.

We have all heard about Mayor Bloomberg’s administration’s latest plan in their ongoing battle against obesity. The new law, which might into effect as early as March 2013 after a series of public hearings, will effectively prohibit restaurants, delis, food carts and movie theaters from selling sodas in quantities exceeding 16oz. The ban will not apply to diet drinks or dairy-based beverages.

(By Laurent Berstecher)

The Bloomberg administration backed up this proposal by referring to the obesity epidemic in the country. According to public health statistics, New York City is not spared by the phenomenon, and 58% of adult New Yorkers are thought to be obese or overweight. Mayor Bloomberg declared Thursday on MSNBC that he felt “an obligation to warn [you] when things are not good for your health.” Bloomberg acknowledged that this plan would not be enough not solve the problem, but believes that it is a step in the right direction.

While the law has generated much controversy these past few days, the extent to which it will affect daily consumer habits, obesity rates, and businesses remains uncertain.

We also wonder do New Yorkers really drink that much soda? And to find out the answer, in a completely unofficial, unscientific capacity, we took to the streets and asked “average” New Yorker’s about their soda-inbibing habits.

“I never buy those big bottles,” says Alberto Cruz, a deli customer. “The soda goes flat before I can drink it all.” Cruz says that when he does buy soda, he usually gets a can. Steve Durkin, 31, is of the same opinion. “I can’t see anybody drinking that much soda at once,” he says.

Ace Deli owner Jenny Kim is equally skeptical about the impact of the ban. “We don’t sell a lot of 2 liter bottles. Most people get a can with their sandwich. The only time people buy these are for parties,” she says. Kim says the deli sells about six crates of large soda bottles a week, compared to forty cases of cans. “City people don’t buy that much soda,” says Kim. “They don’t have cars so they need a drink they can carry.”

Durgesh Gurund, an employee at Bono’s Café, shares similar impressions. “I have never sold one of these large bottles with a sandwich,” he says. “The only times we sell them is when the supermarket is closed and people are throwing a party.”

Gurund thinks that the ban may be bad for business, but doesn’t seem too worried. Although delis may lose some customers, large soda consumers do not represent a significant enough share of their revenues to pose any kind of threat to their business model.

While many have praised Mayor Bloomberg’s ongoing struggle for bringing healthier lifestyles to New York (such as the 2002 and 2011 smoking bans and the 2006 trans fat ban), his latest idea may very well be at risk of falling flat. While the plan is certainly prone to controversy, it may not be that successful at effectively reducing obesity rates.