Government Intervention of the Day

If New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg gets his way -- and it looks like he will -- the city will try to combat obesity by imposing a 16-ounce cap on sugary drinks beginning in March 2013. The ban will apply to more than 20,000 restaurants, as well as food carts, movie theaters, stadiums, and arenas, and will include fountain and bottled sodas, energy drinks, and pre-sweetened iced teas.

Bloomberg unveiled his plan Wednesday:

Obesity is a nationwide problem, and all over the United States, public health officials are wringing their hands saying, "Oh, this is terrible." New York City is not about wringing your hands; it's about doing something. I think that's what the public wants the mayor to do.

Naturally, the New York City Beverage Association is ticked. "The New York City health department's unhealthy obsession with attacking soft drinks is again pushing them over the top," said Stefan Friedman, an industry spokesman. "It's time for serious health professionals to move on and seek solutions that are going to actually curb obesity."

[nypost]