Soda, please (make it a small)

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s obsession with other peoples’ health has taken a new turn. Bloomberg, who has pushed a number of initiatives while in office including banning smoking in restaurants and parks and prohibiting artificial trans fats in restaurant food, is now attacking soft drinks. He proposes a ban on the sale of nondiet soft drinks larger than 16 ounces at restaurants, movie theaters and street carts. Public health officials nationwide are “wringing their hands” over obesity, Bloomberg said. “New York City is not about wringing your hands; it’s about doing something.” The city’s health board must approve the idea, a near certainty given that Bloomberg appointed every member. But our guess is it’s less likely to hold up in court. One obvious challenge: its arbitrariness. Why is a 16-ounce soda OK, but a 20-ouncer isn’t?

Above: Various size cups and sugar cubes are displayed at a news conference at New York’s City Hall, Thursday, May 31, 2012. (AP Photo)

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