The New York City Board of Health voted today to approved a ban on large sized sugar-sweetened beverages.
The ban, championed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, ends the sale of sugary beverages such as sodas larger than 16-ounces in restaurants, movie theaters and other public settings.
Bloomberg, known as a healthy-living advocate, spoke on the ban earlier this month, saying "It's time to face the facts: obesity is one of America's most deadly problems and sugary beverages are a leading cause of it."
"As the size of sugary drinks has grown, so have our waistlines - and so have diabetes and heart disease," he added.
Opponents of the proposed ban, however, have said the proposal is far too restrictive on personal choice.
"Restrictions and bans will do nothing to address the very complex issue of obesity and New Yorkers are smart enough to make their own decisions about what they eat and drink," New Yorkers for Beverage Choices spokesman Eliot Hoff said earlier this month.
The ban will go into effect in six months. It will not effect the sale of diet drinks and fruit juices in excess of 16 ounces.
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