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Sugar-Loving City Councilmembers Not Swallowing Sugary Drink Ban
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jun 5, 2012
Modified Jun 5, 2012
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Jun 5, 2012
Modified Jun 5, 2012
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New Yorkers are having a hard time swallowing Mayor Bloomberg's proposed ban on large sugary drinks. (Some of them, anyway.) According to a Marist/NY1 poll [PDF] though a majority of New Yorkers are opposed, the plan does has some supporters—including 52 percent of those living in Manhattan! But a bit of love doesn't mean the idea isn't also already facing challenges from the City Council. At yesterday's Department of Health budget meeting, Commissioner Thomas Farley found himself being grilled over the proposal from curious council members, who were at the time "snacking on everything from Fritos to a 32-ounce Styrofoam drink."
When asked how large his beverage was, not-petite Councilman Leroy Comrie Jr. (who once tried to ban toys from Happy Meals) announced the drink was "thirty-two ounces, baby" before saying it "was a personal choice" and adding that he's "making a lifestyle change." (He also insisted the pink-liquid was not soda—perhaps a Pink Slime-a-rita?)
But the meeting wasn't just about mocking Councilmembers' appetites! At the meeting, Farley, one of the architects of the mayor's ban, was asked by Councilman David Greenfield why hizzoner is "taking this piecemeal approach which may or may not work, which you don’t necessarily even have the science to back up?" And Councilman Oliver Koppel wanted to know if the city would ban king-sized candy bars and beer next.
Meanwhile, Councilman Domenic Recchia, quite understandably, wondered why, "If obesity is so important, why is gym being cut?”
Farley didn't back down though, pointing out that “Obesity is a big problem... The single largest contributor is the sugared drinks. There’s something about this product which is particularly associated with weight gain." As for the gym question, he noted that cuts of those classes was "up to the Department of Education."
And so it goes. If the plan goes through—Christine Quinn "has said attorneys are studying whether the council should have a vote on the proposal" while other legal challenges to it may have some trouble getting going—it could kick in as soon as next March. According to Farley it would cost "under $1 million" a year to enforce the prohibition—which would not include stores like 7-Eleven. Because Slurpees are sacred, y'know.
Tagged
bloomberg
City Council
department of health
sugar
sugary drinks
Garth Johnston
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