Should Big Sugary Drinks Be Banned in New York City?

Last May, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City proposed a portion control regulation on 16-ounce sugary drinks that would take into effect on March 12, 2013. On Monday, March 11, 2013 a Manhattan Supreme Court judge, Milton Tingling, halted the new regulation on sugary drinks. Mayor Bloomberg has called for an appeal, because he believes the ban is necessary for the health of New Yorkers.

The judge ruled the regulation was arbitrary because it didn’t apply to all food establishments in the City. There are numerous loopholes in the regulation. For instance, the regulation doesn’t account for refills. The new regulation might have unforeseen consequences. For instance, a person who usually buys at 16-ounce soda will have to buy a smaller 12-ounce cup and they might have to refill their cup which would increase their sugar intake. 

The regulation was halted the day before it was scheduled to take effect and restaurants were prepared for the ban. The ban was largely unpopular with small businesses. Many businesses would have lost money because they would have to reprint their menus. Businesses would not be able to sell their 20-ounce bottles of soda, costing them money to restock with smaller bottle sizes. 

 New Yorkers are outraged by the ban on sugary drinks. Some are genuinely upset about the ban on 16-ounce cups. Others are upset that Mayor Bloomberg is will to ban large sugary drinks but isn’t able to tackle the gun control problem. There are bigger problems facing the United States such as gun control and the financial deficit.

Portion control on sugary drinks is only covering up the root problem of obesity. Instead of Mayor Bloomberg trying to control our sugar intake, perhaps he should be more interested in the food people are consuming in America. There are over 250 McDonald’s restaurants in New York City alone. Maybe Mayor Bloomberg should be more concerned with eliminating the availability of fast food chains or implementing healthier foods in restaurants throughout the City.

Ultimately, the consumer chooses the food they will put into their body. A regulation or a ban on certain portions, foods, or sugary drinks won’t stop people from buying from other retailers in large quantities. People are able to make their own decisions and they will have to deal with the consequences of their actions. 


1. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/11/nyregion/as-some-prepare-for-bloombergs-large-sugary-drink-ban-others-vow-defiance.html?_r=0

2. http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/03/11/last-day-for-new-yorkers-to-buy-super-sized-sugary-drinks-in-nyc/