When I'm the mayor, I'm proposing a ban on trips to Bermuda. Too much sun is not good for you. Once a year, maximum. And you can't take a private helicopter to a private plane to get there, way too dangerous. Besides, we all should be doing our part to reduce our carbon footprint. Which leads to my next proposal: banning golf at country clubs. Let's use the open space for solar wind farms. Who's with me!?

The City's Board of Health took the first step toward enacting Mayor Bloomberg's proposed ban on large sugary drinks today. Members, who are appointed by the Mayor, voted unanimously to open a public comment period on the proposal.

Under the plan, any establishment that receives a letter grade from the Health Department, as well as movie theaters and sports arenas, would not be allowed to sell sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces. The ban, which would be the first in the country, could take effect next spring.

Do you agree with the unanimous vote to move the ban forward on large sugary drinks? What arguments for or against the proposal would you make during the public comment period? Are attempts to regulate health habits good policy or too much government regulation?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

I think Bloomberg is out of line we are not in Cuba, where people are told what to eat or drink we are in NYC.

Danny from Queens

funny you can get a 32 oz beer,, 3 double woppers but not a 24 oz cherry coke----- just plain dumb

tom
richmondtown

Michael Bloomberg has a severe God complex and wishes to reshape the world in his image. Check out the latest article about him in New York magazine. You watch, this is just the tip of the iceberg, New Yorkers..

Brendan

If Emperor Bloomberg would just get his priorities straight for once. How about he cracks down on ACS. It seems that almost every day we are hearing about horribly abused children, e.g, Nixmarie Brown, Marchella Bret Pierce and many, many others who ACS allows them to stay with "parents," even though those "parents" torture, beat and starve them to death. It makes me so angry and sick to my stomach that this Mayor has nothing to say about these kids and there are so many of them who just haven't been brought to the public's attention yet, but he is so keen on trimming the waistlines of New Yorkers that he cannot see beyond that. I will be proud to be a New Yorker when the Marchellas and Nixmaries are no longer being ignored by Bloomberg and his useless ACS agency and dictating the size of sugary drinks is a non-issue. Give me a kid who is fat, but has a chance to learn how to change his/her eating habits over a starved, beaten little mite like Nixmarie or Marchella whose "parents" fed them nothing and abused and beat them to death. Get with the reality of New York's children, Bloomberg.

Frances
East Village

Let it go forward -- this will end up in the courts, where Mayor Bloomberg will spend the public's money to try and advance a personal agenda. And by that time, he will probably be out of office and the whole matter rescinded by the next mayor, assuming the courts let it stand. Talk about a waste of time, resources, and political capital . . . .

Bruce
Upper West Side
Manhattan

I wish the mayor luck with his ban on sugary drinks, but I wish he would be as enthusiast about cracking down on dog owners who don't or won't pick-up after their dogs, which is not only an eyesore but also a health issue.

Felix
Bay Ridge

What a big surprise (hah !) Its all one big flock of Bloombergs, if they don't want his wrath and want to keep their jobs. What a scam.

Regards,
Esmerelda, East Village, NYC

John,

This latest move by the Mayor is so obviously un-American. The government has no business telling us—or constitutional power to tell us—what to imbibe, ingest, inhale or shoot up or in what quantities. The government is supposed to protect our rights to do such things. Prohibiting by force of law the size of soda that can be sold violates the rights of manufacturers, venders and consumers.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

P. S. regarding the cost of obesity to the government, here’s a solution: government should stop paying for healthcare. If kids health problems, it’s up to the parents to slim them down.

Hi John;

I'm personally opposed because people should have freedom of choice. Will there be different colored cups for diet and regular drinks? Many soda bottles are 20 oz., why make it 16 oz. vs. 20 oz. since 16 oz. is an unusual size for prepackaged it will really be 12 oz. and what would stop someone from buying two or more? Amazing to me that cigarettes and alcohol are legal but a 20 oz. soda or juice will not be. The other thing is why just soda? Why not one donut per day, two slices of pizza and if your caught going over your limit you get sentenced to all salads for a week!

Snap Poll Question;
How often do you drink sugary drinks in excess of 20 oz.?
A. Daily
B. Weekly
C. Never

Ted
Lower East Side

I think it is ridiculous that the Health Board is going to dictate to us how much sugary beverages we can drink. I'm sure the people that are making these rules only drink water. Oh wait, they probably drink diet soda - sugar free - oh yea - BUT - it's filled with sugar substitute. So if it doesn't kill you from drinking too much sugar, it will kill you from drinking too much artificial substitute.

Citizens of New York should be able to make their own decision on how they wish to live their life. If they want to be obese and unhealthy, that's their choice. If they are health conscious, that's their choice. Last time I checked America was a FREE COUNTRY - why does Bloomy think he can be the DICTATOR OF NEW YORK!!

Oh and by the way - I do NOT DRINK SODA AT ALL - regular or diet.

Jessica, Arden Heights Staten Island

I would rather drink a sugary drink than one with sugar substitutes that mutate DNA and are carcinogenic. This is a form of nanny state class warfare. Why are the most public service announcements on the J train and not on the Yuppie lines?. Why doesnt our neauveau-riche billionaire mayor go after the makers of corn syrup? Bring back sugared soda and Harry stevens hot dogs for a dollar at the ball park instead of truffles and free range hens for all the phillistines from the burbs, who are the only ones that can afford the price of admission. (besides Bloomberg & Giuliani). Shameful and proof that businessmen can't govern. (Hear that Hinterland Amerika?).

JS
Flushing

Hi John,

I have never heard of anything like this. What nonsense. We all have given our opinion.
What else does he want from us. We have many demands because this whole city is going to hell. Again with another member board that will vote in his favor.
Everything he puts his hands on is an utter disaster, a failure and he still doesn't get the message.

ALL THIS MAYOR IS DOING JUST IS LOOKING TO PUT HIS NAME ALL OVER THIS CITY BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. HE HAS NO LEGACY PERIOD.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ALREADY. AGAIN I SAY INSTEAD OF GOING ON A SHOW THAT JUST GIVES HIM A PLATFORM TO WHATEVER HE WANTS BECAUSE NO ONE CHALLENGES HIM. COME UP AND SEE US SOMETIME AT NY1 THE CALL AND BRING CUOMO WITH YOU.
THE CLOCK IS STILL TICKING FOR BOTH OF YOU. UNBELIEVABLE.

SLURPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!

Thank you John,
maxxiee
mp

I'm fairly sure most of us are capable of making our own decisions. I know I didn't need king bloomberg to help me put on my socks this morning. One foot, two foot...yup, I got that pretty well handled. Unlike the smoking ban, I don't see how this has an impact on anyone other then the person drinking it. I drink soda fairly regular, and despite my attempts to look like Jabba the Hutt, my waist is not getting any larger, unlike king bloombergs ginormous ego maniacal head, which by now has swelled to Chris Christie like proportions. Maybe instead of wasting the city budget on pointless jibber jabber[please read that phrase like Mr.T] like this, he can spend our money finding a way to control the weather, or "kidnap Lois Lane"...some of the items that i'm sure are next on his list of "Super-Villainy Things To Do"

-Luke, Grant City, Staten Island

Don't curtail what I'm drinking until the price is lowered; I want what I pay for $1 of sweet tea is 32 oz. at McDonalds. I'm not paying $1 for 16 oz., now if they offer it for 55 cents we might have something here.

Sharon
Harlem, New York City

Surprise. The Mayor appoints these guys. I guess MONEY really does talk.

Anonymous

No, I don't agree. Bloomberg has too much power; they voted in favor because they were all appointed by him. I agree that people drink too much sugar, but feel we should educate and not legislate in this particular issue.

Barri
Jackson Heights

Hey John when you're Mayor you should also just disband all these worthless boards and departments since as Mayor you can just do what you want anyway. This sugary drink ban is just another example of the various forms of mental disorders Bloomberg has, which includes Narcissism, being a control freak and a touch of OCD. Anyone else recall when he wanted to ban the music from the Mister Softee ice cream trucks, but after Cory Lidle crashed into that building and people wanted private planes to be restricted from flying around too low in the city he acted like it wasn't a big deal. That's because he's an wannabe pilot like he's a wannabe Mayor and that would infringe on HIS fun and an activity that only certain people with time and money even indulge in. This soda crusade is just another windmill for Bloomberg to go after to keep his name in the news and make it look like he does something for the people of this city, when in fact all he has done is drive people away in droves.

I have a question someone should ask the Wizard since he loves numbers and percentages so much. How much of these dreaded sugary drinks are just ice? Because unless I am mistaken at most of these places when you order those large drinks and tell them not put any ice, most of the employees are told to load it up with a certain amount of ice so there is actually more ice than actual beverage. So in essence Bloomberg is wasting time, money, energy, and air time on banning a big cup of ice.

RL
The Bronx

6000 OBESE PEOPLE DIE IN N.Y.C. EACH YEAR, SO, WE NEED TO BAN LARGE SUGARY DRINKS. I SAY SEND NOTICES TO THE CHUBBY ONES AND EDUCATE THEM, IF "THEY " DON'T GET IT, A BIG OH WELL. 6000 OBESE IN A CITY OF 8 MILLION IS NOTHING. OBESE PEOPLE ARE HARDER TO KIDNAP, LEAVE THEM ALONE.

JOE, BAY TERRACE

While I can accept the science behind this proposal, albeit with some skepticism, it seems like a drop in the Big Gulp as an effort to change consumers' unhealthy dietary habits, and it could be the crest of a slippery slope that might someday mandate portion controls with other food products and perhaps even the outlawing of sodium-laden all-you-can-eat Chinese buffets, gut-busting competitive eating contests, and perhaps even unchaperoned trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Judging by the widespread outrage over the Mayor's proposal, I suspect that as many people will defiantly buy two 16 ounce drinks as will be deterred by outlawing the 20 ouncer. But the real winners here will be the fast-food vendors, who will be selling more drinks, while the losers will be the sweet-toothed consumers who buy and consume 32 ounces of high-fructose belly wash when they would have been perfectly happy with just 20 ounces.

Then, again, perhaps the most significant benefit of this brouhaha is that we are having this conversation, not so much about the "nanny state" bugaboo as about the fast food industry's pernicious impact on our nation's health, and, as such, on our nation's economy. With obesity, diabetes, and heart disease at epidemic proportions. we have become what we eat, and we may be the only species working diligently toward it's own extinction.

BIG ANDY
Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn

I will say straight forward that I am truly ashamed to call myself a New Yorker and a World Trade Center Recovery worker. People who have fought and died for our individual freedoms should be rolling over in their graves because of this. First off, how dare he tread on what we choose for ourselves in our lives. I wish I would have spit at him when I shook his hand at the recovery workers ceremony at the WTC recently. What I do with myself is my business and not his. Just because he doesn't personally like something doesn't mean everyone shouldn't like that thing. Second, he must think some of us are stupid...it is actually cheaper to buy a larger portion of something than it is to buy two or three smaller portions of that same product. If you don't believe it, go to the store, buy a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi and it will cost less than it will to buy two 20 oz. bottles of the same soda. He is trying to fool all of you into spending more and counting on New Yorkers being too dumb to figure that out. It really has to do with you spending more of whatever little money you have left. It is officially time to leave New York City.

Walter from Jackson Heights

I think the ban is very unfair to people that might buy a large drink to share with their family/children. It will make people spend more money if they have to buy several drinks for the family instead of sharing a large and many people can't afford it. It's not just drinks that make people overweight. It's also their choice of foods.

Debbie from Whitestone

Just as some argue for carbon taxes to limit environmental impacts from burning fuel, there should be a tax to limit the over-consumption of harmful foods in our society. Does the Restaurant Association and Sugar lobby want to pay the health premiums for people with diabetes and obesity? Of course not, they'd rather pass it to the taxpayer.

Frank - Sunset Park, Brooklyn

Does not go far enough - because government regulation is justified when taxpayers are paying for the bad eating habits and lack of control of unhealthy eaters. Cigarettes are highly taxed and very fattening foods should be as well. But since the tax proposal didn't pass, this is better than nothing!

Elizabeth
Astoria

Make cigarettes illegal. Let people drink what they want. Offer more health education classes in school and involve the parents! They need to cook healthy foods for there kids and not rely on the crap the school provides.

Danielle

We live in a democratic country, a democratic state, and a democratic city. It is the people's choice as to what they want to do with their lives, not the government. We are supposed to be following a laissez-faire government, meaning: the government is to keep intervention in business to a bare minimum. Something that the mayor is not following.

Ramsey

In a very short time, we won't be able to have public discussions about edicts like this. Our freedom is being eroded by this meddlesome little dictator.

Frances
East Village

What happen to freedom he's using it allow us to use it too. Why not band welfare people cheat that system. But no take away freedoms for the real sweat of this city.

Dennis
Queens

I believe that before this proposal is taken into consideration the government should FIRST implement health care for all. If the city's BOARD of HEALTH is really concerned with the members of its community and believes it should regulate its soda calorie intake then it should ALSO make sure everyone has HEALTHCARE...

Sincerely,
A citizen without Healthcare...

Hi John, I thought this was america! i drink what i like and the mayor shouldnt govern that. it starts with drinks, smoking a cigarette, walking a certain way, wearing certain clothing and next thing you know its a military state! ... tell adolph bloomberg there are better issues like RATs in the subway, homeless needing help, and education to worry about.. he has so many cronies doing HIS job that he's focusing on meaningless things to attack... how about bringing jobs to New york!...

thanks John

Erik from Bushwick

John

Trusting the NYS Restaurant Association to weigh in on this sugary soda issue is like trusting Dracula to guard the blood bank., Anyone who is against this ban of what kills us is a fool. Plain and simple. I am not a fan of Bloomberg in any way whatsoever but this issue is not so much about banning sugary sodas anymore - it is clearly about how much Bloomberg has and and what most people don't have - money.

ray
upper west

Mayer Bloomberg is hiding behind his own a gender and failure of being one of the worst mayors NYC has ever seen if they I know people who are slim who are diabetic I also over wight people who are heather the the mayor his self he is a fraud he needs to be investigated.

William

The mayor is violating everyone’s rights. Who is Bloomberg to say what I should eat or drink? It’s not any of his concern. If I want to eat hamburgers all day long or carrots, it’s my business if I want to. There are homeless people living in the street and in shelters. Why isn’t Bloomberg concern with the food that they eat or the lack there of? In the same breath, Bloomberg has given contracts to companies to place Snapple and soda machines in all of the city agencies? Why isn’t he concerned about ketchup being considered a vegetable in public schools? He just needs to go gracefully at the end of his term.

Ooo.

Kudos to Bloomberg. It's about time we finally addresses this problem. Critics of this plan are mocking of a serious health crisis. Do they assume it'll simply fix itself?

In my experience, obesity seems to be correlated with a lack of education and/or general unhappiness. Opposing this initiative is pure social Darwinism.

Dave,
West Village

Instead of worrying about things that are important such as education, financial aid, and employment, the mayor is deciding how much soda we as citizens shouldn't drink. His focus should be larger issues rather than what New Yorkers are drinking. People all over need to know what to drink to keep them healthy without the mayor's interference.

Alina
Flushing Queens

Did every one forget it was he put snapple in our schools in 2003 without an open bid..half of a 20 oz soda is ice anyway

Carl

Big brother is taking control and the all the brainwashed Americans are falling right into their plan.

Amanda from Brooklyn

Help the overweight with education and free gym memberships to encourage them to lose weight. This is America and you cannot do this.

LB

Congratulations, NY! Your lives are no longer yours. You were warned! Enjoy what's left of your liberties before they're ALL gone.

Lamont
Far Rockaway

If he is banning drinks what else is he going to ban the just ban is he going to give 20 dollar fines like in Massachusetts.

Eric from staten island

People have forgotten when Cigarettes started to be Regulated and taxed. for the same reason. Health concerns Let's be honest here People. In the large cannot control their vices I agree with the. Mayor This is a start Just like cigarettes sugar and. Salt will have to be controlled

Joseph

This will not limit people who are determined to make stupid choices, it simply makes it harder at the register. The government already regulates all kinds of stuff that is harmful, why not sugary drinks? These people are going to cost our healthcare system a lot when they get older.

Michael from Long Island City Queens

Why do you keep emphasizing the word "ban"? Sugary sodas are still available, just not in large quantities. Everyone went nuts over the cigarette tax and ban in public areas, but how has it really negatively effected anyone since implemented?

Robert
-Washington Heights-

Stop spending money promoting these bans and put safe drinking fountains in! Let's promote the best tap water in the world. That's a campaign I can get with.

Alix
Wash heights

As an asthmatic, I would be more of a supporter of banning cigarettes than banning soda. If the mayor really wants to helping New Yorkers made healthier food choices, he should ficus on making healthier foods more affordable and accessible.

Nic from Harlem

On the one hand they talk about recycling....so by reducing the size of the container of the drink, we will be using more plastic bottles and cans as if a person is going to drink sugary drinks they are just going to continue drinking the same amount.

In addition if they are so worried about the rising cost of health care....most of the people who are obese and suffering with health issues and are without health insurance are generally on welfare and food stamps etc and what the city should do is NOT give them carte blanche as to what they use their welfare dollars on but they should only be used for healthy food.....I personally have seen people with those WELFARE cards at the check out lines with cartons and bottles of sugary drinks and practically no vegetables etc.

Roy

Tell the Mayor to please fix the mosquitoes problem so we can enjoy the parks and our backyards and maybe we will lose weight a more sensible way.

TR

As a pediatrician dealing every day with obesity i would like to go on the air to explain the american people what I see every day in my office, the struggle with obesity in children of all ages.

Obesity will bring the health system care down in the USA, it won't be Medicare.

This country only look at his freedom, Wonderful!!!! but forgets that the strenght of a country is built upon new generation. Mayor Bloomberg deserve something like the Nobel Prize for taking this initiative so close to his heart in the well being of the greatest nation.

EJC

You can't drink too much sugary drink but you can drink as much booze as you want....funny lol.

BEG

its Erik from Bushwick again.

the millions they are going to spend on promoting this ban could go into building parks, public gyms or areas that would promote a healthy living.. once again bad politics wasting all of OUR taxpayers monies on more posters and commercials..

Erik
Bushwick

PS i love you show :)

it should be on for at least 3 hours and politicians should be FORCED to watch it as they loose the connection with the people once they get elected

thanks again

WHAT'S NEXT BLOOMBERG???? IT IS DANGEROUS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO HAVE SO MUCH CONTROL OVER PEOPLES LIVES... WHY NOT CONTROL CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL?? WHAT'S NEXT? NAPOLEON BLOOMBERG WE'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU.

SONIA

This is just the start I think he is going to put more bands on other types of foods also he might follow Massachusetts and give 20 dollar fines for cursing in public this is what u get when u put a Boston politician in a new York office

Eric

Many people calling in seem to believe that soda is being banned. It's not being banned. One could feasibly go out and buy 10 16-oz. drinks and slurp it all up to their heart's content. But maybe this would help people think about what they're putting in their bodies. Some of these big drinks have over 700 calories in them. Wasn't the original bottle of coke just 8 ounces? How did we ever get to 64-oz drinks for ONE person? It's insane. If one insists in finding a villain in all this, one should take a look at the beverage industry lobby.

Tom
Chelsea

This has nothing to do with helping the citizen. This has to do with helping the industry. They know these efforts will fail, people will just drink more of the smaller portion which translates to greater profit for the beverage industry. Now they can blame it on the citizen and back to business as usual. How has Bloomberg invested in the industry?

From Astoria
Enrique

People are going to do what they want it its time for this foolish narsasistic Dog mayor to roll over.try fighting to make Heath insurance cheaper and available for all poor and homeless alike.and maybe people can catch diseases earlier on so the wont get to the point of death do something for real it is a mess how people are falling for this bull he dose not care about our health at all.

William

What is going on with this Mayor ? First off I have personally written him emails in regards to other issues like his bans on smoking etc. If he gave two cents about people he would respond to his emails that have questions like, why is it okay to drink beer at a baseball game and not smoke. How many cigarettes have killed drivers this year ? How many alcohol related accidents have occured ? Strange how he doesn't touch on the serious issues going on. Now it's about banning big drinks. Next he'll tell me I can't buy a full grocery cart of groceries because it doesn't suit his agenda. I haven't voted for this Mayor and never would, he's a complete jerk and thinks about himself and his family. Yeah he makes one dollar a year, and how much more does he steal away from people that want to work and can't because his family has those jobs.

Worry about getting us JOBS and stop with yor petty BS. Wake up NYC, don't sit there and allow this guy run your life. And all these people that are for this are older, it seems, what did they do when they were at the age of 50 and below,

sincerely,
James

John,

You keep letting the callers talk about the sugary drink ban. Is he banning sugary drinks? No, just the larger sizes? People can still drink a bathtub full, they just have to get up and get another, if they can lift their fat asses off their chairs. No one needs that much sugar.

Paul

I support the Mayor and it will work to make people healthier like his policy on smoking did in reducing smoking.

Will In Wiliamsburg..

I think that this is not just about obesity but as usual Bloombergs bottom line MONEY !!! The larger the beverage you buy the cheaper it is in ratio .... therefore, if a person buys 2 smaller soda's instead of 1 , NYC gains more sales tax.

Danielle

I wish a pack of wild Dingos would eat our mayor. "His Arrogance" the mayor, shut down physical education in the schools! Kids are spending time on their video games and computers instead of getting exercise.THAT'S why kids are getting fat! He's done nothing but destroy my city. He doctors numbers to make his record look good and a lot of you knuckle heads go along with it. Why? Because his buddies in the media brain wash you on his behalf! His routine is getting old. He's not only driving New Yorkers out of the city...he's driving tourists away too. Maybe he should be concerned about the sodium levels in Kosher food. That causes high blood pressure!

Norm Upper East side

Why doesn't the mayor offer gym membership discounts for obesity? Where's the motivation? Cutting a drink size isn't even helpful when you can still buy soda in smaller bottles! Pointless

Alina-Flushing Queens

And yet is our Mayer the picture of great heath? he sure doesn't look anything like jack lalane to me so who is be to say what people can or can't drink.

Beg

You seem to be encouraging the idea that sodas have been "banned," which you know is not true. The "jumbo" SIZE has been banned. If you would like to drink 32 ounces of soda at once, you are 100% free to buy two 16-ounce sodas and drink them to your heart's content. People keep talking about their "personal freedoms," apparently without realizing that one man's freedom to gain 200 pounds and then suffer the consequences--heart attack, diabetes,etc--actually takes a toll on everyone else's pocketbooks when health premiums increase as a result. No man is an island, remember, and even the personal choices we make affect the rest of our nation.

The idea that the 32-ounce ban is a "slippery slope" to the banning of french fries and too much sun is ridiculous, and I think you know it. Making it EASIER for New Yorkers to make healthy choices is not the same as making it impossible for New Yorks to do something that they want. Again: you wanna drink 32 ounces of crap? Go right ahead. This step is merely a deterrent.

Also, you keep comparing this to a ban on cigarettes, to which I say: HUZZAH! Cigarettes SHOULD be illegal. They are just as dangerous (if not more so) than hard drugs that ARE illegal, and they've survived in the world only because the cigarette companies have the money and the power to remain on the safe side of the law. I say: legalize marijuana, criminalize cigarettes. Marijuana is a drug just like alcohol and has to be monitored in the same way. Cigarettes, on the other hand, kill people. Millions of people. Let the tobacco growers in Kentucky grow hemp and marijuana to replace tobacco, and you don't lose a single job (you create them, most likely).

Finally--don't run for mayor. Please.

Sincerely,
Emily from Brooklyn

John --

I am wondering if the July 24th public hearing on the Soda Ban will be another Panel for Educational Policy Hearing where the decision to close schools is already made prior to the onset of the hearing??

These Boards and Panels governed and appointed by Mayor Bloomberg are really starting to scare me!! Now the Board of Health doesn't think that this ban goes far enough -- WHEN DOES THIS ALL STOP? Mayor Bloomberg really has to go . . . along with all of his appointees.

If this ban passes -- I will be in court standing along side any group or organization that will fight against this ban or any other ban that this Board and the Mayor decides to impose on the people of New York City. Last time that I looked this was a democracy . . .

Lisa
Upper east side

John

How could anybody be against this effort to cut back on some of the things that destroy us? If you want to get angry - get angry at the Restaurant association who would still allow people to smoke and dole out trans fats. They are not to be trusted. The real problem is that Bloomberg ran for a third term and won. That's the anger you're hearing

Roy
Midtown

I don't necessarily disagree with the ban, however, the bigger picture is he is taking away our rights little at a time. How about reforming welfare, don't allow them to buy soda, no soda in schools, jails, city buildings. He shouldn't have the power to stop what we drink. Why is it cheaper to eat unhealthy? Make healthy eating more affordable.

Ryan, glendale

This seems to me a red herring to distract from important issues. If the mayor is genuinely concerned about the health and well-being of the people of this city, he should focus his time, energy, and resources on trying to re-open the hospitals that have closed and on working to prevent more hospitals from shutting down.

--Regina, Forest Hills

Does the Health Board seriously believe that they can make a difference? People will do what they please!! If the size of sugary drinks are reduced people who want more drinks will buy more. I think the Mayor has to stop abusing his power. He should start local programs that educate people on low cost healthy choices.

Vicky of Whitestone

What will I wash down my Big Mac with?! Good luck Mayor

Nathan bay ridge

Instead of the Mayor regulating what we drink, concerned about our health, he should provide affordable Gyms? Obese people did not get this way eating out, would he regulate what they do in the privacy of their homes too?

Cynthia, from Queens

He has so many people fooled he is not GOD all tho he would like to think so Lol how health is he ? Just cause People are thin dose not mean healthy plus I even know over wight people that ave vegetarian? So what do we do then ? People are just that people need to worry if they will live to see tomorrow and for those people who judge cause in gods eyes that is a sin.

William

Wouldn't it be great to live in a city where people got as outraged about their mayor selling the land out from under them to his real estate developer pals as they are about his plan to take away their "right" to drink as much soda as they want to whenever and wherever they want?

Perhaps Bloomberg's nefarious anti-soda campaign is, I dunno, meant to divert people's attention from his racist police department's stop-and-frisk policies?

Andrew

If we're banning supersized soft drinks in NYC for health reasons, maybe we ought to ban cars and other motor vehicles throughout NYC which pollute the air we breathe and contribute to a host of diseases which are much more life threatening than obesity. Is Mr Bloomberg willing to give up his ride to work for the health of New Yorkers?

Dan
UES

Mayor Blomberg should focus his energy on fixing the broken down 911 system and the cost overrun time keeping computerized system. There more pressing issues to focus than sugary soda. Alternative sweetness are worst by far.

Guillermo
Glendale,NY

Banning Sugary drinks are not going to help with obesity. I disagree with caller who stated increase food stamps, so they can buy healthier drinks. They should not be able to use the foodstamps for sugary drinks and sodas.

Tracy,
Manhattan

the soda and sugar drinks are a good start, with nutrition counseling, nyc.gov on nutrition.

gayle

The issue is not sugar in drinks. The issue is freedom to choose! I drink a 20 ounce mountain dew everyday and have done so for 15 years and I am skinny. Obesity is foremost caused by genetics and not what we eat and drink. The fact that no elected official is standing up to Bloomberg is telling. We are losing are losing are freedoms one at a time, that in a few years all of our freedoms could be gone and no one would even realize it.

Richard
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

America is the land of opportunity, most opportunity come from having a gamut choices. The obesity problem that is solely being blamed on sugary drinks is just a scapegoat. Sugary drinks have been around for more than half a century, & obesity has been around forever. Obesity is a lifestyle problem, not a soft drink problem.A sugary drink is less expensive than a healthy drink, as well as fruits & vegetables cost more than foods that are less nutritious. Economics play a major part in people making the bad choices. If the mayor's intention was to protect & promote the good health of or youth (which I very much doubt), I could possibly agree, but only if they started the ban in ALL schools. Children will almost always make the bad (sugary,fatty,tasty foods) choices first, as opposed good choices (water, fruits, & vegetables).

I haven't had a soda in over 22 years, yet I still feel the mayor is imposing his well, & over stepping his duties.

Michael
New York, NY.

Someone said Bloomberg is a business man. And he is a business man. This is going to cost more money. All of us! Something is wrong here. We are not thinking. Relieve the stress of the people so that we can think about healthier foods. Does he support forced reading? Or forced medical care? Those too would help NY's. But my Pepsi? How about keeping kids active by bringing more activity to schools and low cost programs that spark creativity which would spark Activity. It creates interaction on another level. And as Americans, we all need to interact on another level in every sense of the word. This taking away without putting anything back is treason!

~ M
DBKQN

I agree with the mayor's ban. Apparently, studies show the sugary drinks are strongly associated with obesity. People still are perfectly free to drink as much sugary drink as they want, but cannot buy the supersize drink. It will cost more to buy the banned quantity equivalent, but I wonder if there are any studies that show the amount of NYC tax dollars that go to health care costs for people with obesity-related illness.

Mark

I think we should absolutely eat/drink whatever we want--IF we are prepared to pay for the medical consequences. I am obese and insurance has had to pay many thousands of dollars for medical treatment. The Mayor's proposals make me feel I have been one of millions whose personal behavior has skewed the cost and politics of health care.
Perhaps I should be held accountable or allow public officials to put roadblocks in the way of personal catastrophe.

Along these lines, requiring us to pay much more for smokes, buying two smaller sodas in place of supersize, adding taxes to gasoline purchase is governments only way to protect the greater society from the bad behavior of some. As an obese psychotherapist, it is also true that we are likely to feel satisfied after finishing a smaller soda, and less likely to buy more whereas we are likely to drain the larger serving even if full halfway through.

Let's be less indignant and more thoughtful.

Sherry
Far Rockaway

I have really had it with Bloomberg and his attempt at a Totalitarian State.

He is so concerned about the health of NY’ers he raised the taxes on Cigarettes. However, no tax was placed on cigars. Could it be because he smokes cigars? I visited a Cigars Bar between 5th and Madison Avenues near 86th Street a few years ago and lo and behold -- the owner(s) prominently displayed Bloomberg’s Humidor.

Now, he is going after large sodas. Will he also ban Large bottles of Champagne? No, because he serve them at his galas.

Fact is, unless he is gong to Ban All Processed Foods, Shut All Bakeries (cakes are fattening), Ice Cream Shops, Fast Food Restaurants, Starbucks and Dunkin Donut Coffee Houses, Diners and Restaurants (some of which serve those 24 oz. Porterhouse steaks), and give us quality health foods that are affordable and readily accessible, he needs to just finish his term and fade to black. Sodas alone is not going to change a thing. People have to make their own choices.

Enough is Enough already,
Rona
Harlem, New York.

This is an excellent idea on the part of Mayor Bloomberg and his administration. Sugar feeds cancer cells. It causes other diseases as well, and contributes to mood disorders. When people comment that their rights are being taken away, that this is America, they need to ask themselves, will they be responsible for their hospital bills or will the government have to cover the costs? This ignorance is what causes so much disease, and then the government is expected to pay this population's medical bills. So people should take a lot more responsibilty towards their health and well-being and if they are too lazy and/or ignorant, then yes, the government should intervene.

Our biggest health problem is cigarettes. The air in NYC and anywhere there is a large percentage of smokers is killing us all, slowely. This is an atrocity. Cigarettes need to be banned immediately. People want clean air and clean water. NYC can be seen as an extension of the 9/11 air, if truth be told. The pollution here is terrible due to all of the second hand smoke that remains hanging in the air. There will always be smokers (it is still very much alive in the parks despite the mayor's attempts) as long as there are cigarettes. Everyone suffers here; it is a no-win situation and will remain as such until cigarettes are banned.

Thank you.
Karen K.