NYC Supersized Soda Ban Passed!

This morning, the New York City Board of Health approved Bloomberg’s  proposal to ban the sale of soda and sugary drinks in cups or containers larger than 16-ounce in restaurants, movie theaters, and other public venues.  This has been a very public issue, with the Health Department receiving more than 38,000 oral and written comments about the soda crackdown.  According to Bloomberg and other advocates for the proposal, it will help the increasing epidemic of obesity.  For someone who drinks a soda a day, they will save close to 1500 calories a year.  This is equivalent to 70 Hershey bars which would amount to a weight gain of about four pounds of body fat per year.

The initiative was approved and will be effective March 12, 2013.  Pamela Brier, a board member, stated in the Wall Street Journal, the “initiative is terrific, there are many unhappy people but hopefully the new ban can soon become the new norm.”  With almost 60% of New York City adults and 40% of city public school elementary children (eighth grade or below) overweight or obese, Bloomberg’s soda ban is a step forward to help American’s cut down on extra calories and sugar.  Hopefully, it will help people become more aware of portion sizes and making conscious decisions to improve their health and put a stop to obesity.

What do you think about the soda ban?

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