New York, NY. - The American Soft-Drink industry has started its fight against Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bill that would ban the sale of large-sized sugared drinks. The industry has started gathering signatures from civilians and related companies in a campaign against the bill that would put a ban on the sale of any sugared or soda drinks larger than 16 ounces from any entity that receives a letter grade for food service, this includes restaurants, hotels, delis, food-chains, food carts and movie theaters.
The coalition put together by the industry and its supporters is aptly named New Yorkers Beverages Choice. The campaign has started attacking the ban in full-swing through radio commercials and petitions.
The American Average Association (ABA) is sponsoring the campaign. ABA spokesman, Eliot Hoff told the New York Times, "we are prepared to utilize whatever resources necessary." The campaign is cleverly evading the topic of obesity and citing freedom of choice as its fundamental point for opposition.
The ban, which was proposed by Mayor Bloomberg on May 30, comes as the Mayor's effort to battle growing obesity rates. According to Mayor Bloomberg restricting the availability of super-sized sugary drinks to the people is doing exactly that, he told the New York Times, "New York is not about wring your hands; it's about doing something. I think that's what the public wants the mayor to do."
The ban does not apply to bottled drinks sold in markets or stores. It also will not include diet drinks, fruit juices, alcoholic or dairy drinks.
The New York City Board of Health is scheduled to vote on the bill on July 24. The bill is the first of its kind and if passed, will be in effect from March 2013.
