NEW YORK—The clash between those for and against Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposal to ban sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces continued in full force Tuesday with a public hearing during the Department of Health’s board meeting. Debate centers on whether the ban infringes upon fundamental rights or is merely a way to make New Yorkers healthier.
Councilman Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx) said a ban would be “an obstruction of the rights of New Yorkers to choose for themselves.”
“While this is a minor intrusion, it is a disturbing exercise of government power,” said Koppell.
Many health professionals, however, have come out in support of the proposal.
“I think it is time to return to more reasonable sizes,” said Dr. Lisa Young, a nutritionist and adjunct professor at New York University. “We have grown accustomed to oversize portions, and we have come to expect them. My research found that portion sizes are now two to five times larger than in the 1950s—that is more than double the size.”
In her research, Young found that when McDonalds first opened, only a 7-ounce soda was offered; when Burger King first opened, they had a 12-ounce small and a 16-ounce large. Now, Burger King’s small cup size is 20 ounces, and its large is 42 ounces.
Cup sizes in movie theaters have also ballooned. The minimum size is at least 20 ounces, or 32 ounces in some theaters.
