The New York City Board of Health has approved a measure proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to ban the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, street carts, and movie theaters, according to a story in the New York Times.
"NYC's new sugary drink policy is the single biggest step any gov't has taken to curb obesity. It will help save lives," Bloomberg tweeted.
The ban would affect the sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 fluid ounces and will take effect in six months unless blocked by a judge.
The American soft drink industry is opposing the ban and has vowed to fight it, according to the Times.
The ADA issued a press release saying it applauds Bloomberg for shining a spotlight on the issue of frequent and excessive consumption of soda and other sugary beverages, which raises the risk of adverse health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.
"When it comes to a ban related to a particular food or beverage, is a stick rather than a carrot approach the best way to get people to adopt healthier diets? Perhaps not, but the attention alone that the mayor's ban has generated on this issue is certainly a huge step in the right direction," ADA stated in a press release.
