NYC Plans Large Soda Ban

Bottles of Coca-Cola larger than 16 oz. would be banned in NYC dining establishments under a new ban proposed by Mayor Bloomberg
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images.

New York City plans to ban the sale of large-sized sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters and similar single-serve locations as part of Mayor Bloomberg’s quest to reduce obesity.

The New York Times reports that Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal would limit soft drink cup and bottle sizes to 16 ounces or less, a size that’s larger than a typical can of Coke—but smaller than many of the 20-ounce bottles that are currently sold by the city’s street vendors and only a fraction of many of the sizes found on fast food menus.

Sodas and drinks sold in convenience stores or grocery stores would not have to abide by the ban, and diet sodas, fruit juice, alcoholic beverages, and dairy-based drinks would also remain fair game. (The Times has a handy chart posted that covers what will and won’t be affected by the ban.)

The city has been on an anti-soda kick recently, as Gothamist notes, with gross-out “this is your brain on drugs”-style PSAs about obesity and sodas plastered in subway cars. The mayor needs the city’s Board of Health to approve the plan, which is likely. Assuming they do, the plan could go into effect as soon as next March.