One day before a ban on certain sugary beverages in certain settings in New York City was set to take effect; a state judge ruled yesterday that the policy, championed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, should not be imposed.
In his ruling, Justice Milton A. Tingling Jr. called the rules, “arbitrary and capricious,” echoing consumer and beverage industry claims that the rules, which would include restricting the size of sugary drinks to 16 ounces or less at restaurants, street carts, and entertainment venues, are confusing and unenforceable.
Bloomberg vowed to appeal the ruling, saying yesterday that the rules were a matter of life and death when it came to protecting city residents from the health issues associated with obesity.
Today we want to know what you think of the both the drink rules and the decision to prevent them from being put into effect. Should our elected officials be allowed to tell us how much we can drink or eat and where we can do it? Does this draw parallels to restrictions on smoking in public places and prevention of second hand smoke? WAMC's Alan Chartock hosts.
