NEW YORK — New York City has banned the sale of sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces in restaurants and other venues.
“This is the single biggest step any city, I think, has ever taken to curb obesity,” said Michael Bloomberg, New York’s mayor. “It’s certainly not the last step that lots of cities are going to take, and we believe that it will help save lives.”
Not everyone agrees with the decision. “What we need in New York are sensible solutions to the obesity issue that focus on a comprehensive approach to tackle an extremely complex problem,” Eliot Hoff, a spokesman for a beverage industry-sponsored group called New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, is quoted as saying by CNN. “New Yorkers are smart enough to decide for themselves what to eat and drink.”
Convenience stores, vending machines and some newsstands will be exempt from the ban.
The decision is expected to take effect in March and be enforced by the city’s restaurant inspection team.
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