New York State passed a law yesterday that could shake up the USA’s attitude towards fizzy drinks.
The NYC health board passed a law prohibiting the sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces (that’s 450gm, which is the same as 450ml to us) yesterday.
The Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, said this law will save lives by reducing obesity.
This is the city’s latest controversial step to reduce obesity and its deadly complications.
The sugary drinks larger than 450ml have been outlawed nearly everywhere they are sold, except for supermarkets and convenience stores.
So if it’s a two litre bottle of Coke you want, it now involves a trip to the nearest supermarket.
Violators of the ban will face a $200 fine. The ban does not include diet fizzy drinks.
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Bloomberg said the measure is the “single biggest step any city I think has ever taken to curb obesity.
“We believe that it will help save lives,” he said.
It will be interesting to see if any other state follow the Big Apple’s lead.
About one-third of Americans are obese, and about 10 per cent of the nation’s healthcare bill is tied to obesity-related diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
