The NYT reports (link via Michelle Malkin):
New York City plans to enact a far-reaching ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters and street carts, in the most ambitious effort yet by the Bloomberg administration to combat rising obesity.
The proposed ban would affect virtually the entire menu of popular sugary drinks found in delis, fast-food franchises and even sports arenas, from energy drinks to pre-sweetened iced teas. The sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 fluid ounces — about the size of a medium coffee, and smaller than a common soda bottle — would be prohibited under the first-in-the-nation plan, which could take effect as soon as next March.
The measure would not apply to diet sodas, fruit juices, dairy-based drinks like milkshakes, or alcoholic beverages; it would not extend to beverages sold in grocery or convenience stores.
While most right-minded people would think that maybe, just maybe, people could make their own choices regarding the size of their soda, Utimate Nanny Bloomberg disagrees. Most commentary today has been of the mocking nature. However, Tom Maguire of JustOneMinute thinks this is a good (if ineffective) first step:
The socialization of healthcare costs gives each of us a financial stake in the health choices made by others. The next step is then either more regulation of those choices or less socialization of the health insurace market.
This kind of insanity just leads to more insanity. Prof. Jacobsen lays out the myriad ways that people will simply work around this ass-hattery.
Black Market Big Gulps are on the horizon. Or at least empty 32oz. cups for those souls brave enough to purchase two 16oz double-plus ungood sugary drinks.
