Bloomberg attempts to limit soda size to 16-ounces

"May Bloomberg"

Freudian slip? :)

would the bill also limit free re-fills?

I realize obesity is a problem but this also punishes people who live a healthy life and enjoy soda.

Where do you draw the line? Will the govt then dictate our entire diet?

And if it's just on sizes what about free refills? What will stop someone from buying two drinks under the size limit? What will stop people from switching to other sugar rich beverages that won't be regulated?

I think the whole idea sucks. I truly love drinking soda and I'm rarely ever sick, I live a pretty active lifestyle.

I'd sooner support mandating exercise than I would taking away personal freedoms. Not that I think that idea would be great either but I'm sure it accomplish a lot more for the general public.

Do I agree that a 64 oz "pop" (this is a Buffalo blog, right?) is ridiculous? Yes. Pop in any size is terrible for you and it goes well beyond the calories. Nutrition and lack of exercise in this country is disgusting and it needs to be addressed for the health of our nation.

HOWEVER... At what point does it stop? Are we really going to regulate the stupid out of our society?

On a lighter note, we know the effect prohibition had on organized crime. Could these sugar regulations blow a whole new revenue stream for under-ground sweets trade????

I disagree that you can necessarily prevent someone from buying those sizes, and I find it kid of ridiculous that people are calling for a ban on large sizes. No one is being forced to drink these. Maybe require that nutritious facts for an average soft drink are on the cup prominently, like candy bars do.

I do agree, however, there needs to be a crack down on food stamp and EBT usage and abuse. Why should food stamps be able to be used at fast food places to buy processed garbage at the store? That carries a cost to everyone, especially when tens of millions of food stamp users are also on taxpayer funded Medicaid. It should be guided into a more flexible WIC type program - don't subsidize junk food and pop, let them buy healthy food and household necessities. Update the list maybe once a twice a year.

here's a novel idea WHY DON'T YOU TEACH YOUR CHILDREN BETTER EATING HABITS!!! there's an obesity problem because you let your chidren consume and consume like it's a good idea to keep consuming... that's not the theater's fault and it's certainly not mcdonald's fault, that falls squarely on the parents. who wants to debate me on that?

PREACH brother! Let the adults do whatever they want, but somebody needs to protect children, or at least educate them to make better decisions.

PREACH brother! Let the adults do whatever they want, but somebody needs to protect children, or at least educate them to make better decisions.

let them drink it if they please. There shouldn't be a ban on such trivial things. Bloomberg should busy himself with more pressing issues in NYC

Unbelievable - more government can cure anything - Bah humbug. Let's deal with the more important issues-there's certainly enough of them.

Well, I'm just gonna keep smoking my cigarettes along with my 16 ounce soda....we're worried about soda...jeez. You can't "run off" cancer or COPD brother.

If the government (meaning taxpayers) is going to pick up the tab for the sick then they should have some say in cutting down on public health problems. Who takes care of these sick, obese soda swilling, smoking Americans...the system (taxpayers)

This is really a stupid waste of time.

No one has a gun to their heads being forced to buy huge portions. People will find ways around this silly ban.

Banning cigarettes (never gunna happen) would be much more benificial to the health of society.

Trying to regulate poor parenting/poor eatting habits is a waste of time and tax payers money. Spend your time on somthing more valuable Bloomberg.

Yeah, did they ban refills to? I guess it works since I will need to walk up to get my refills so I am burning more energy.

When voters encourage politicians to "run government like a business", this is the sort of approach they're asking for. Its the heavy hand of a technocrat. Thats the common thread running through this policy, anti-smoking laws, the trans fat ban, traffic congestion fees, Stop and Frisk and Police Monitoring of Muslims. Its all about the numbers. I wouldn't want a dangerous city of unhealthy people but somehow there needs to be a balance. Achieving that balance takes insight. Why would anyone expect a man who travels mainly by helicopter and bulletproof SUV to understand?

How about instead halving the sugar content of soda? I'm sure it'll still taste sweet even with half the sugar.

This is so much fun!

It is ALL ABOUT the parents/guardians - PERIOD. This is another Big Brother attempt to step in where parents should. We are now seeing the 2nd and 3rd generation brats raising kids now and going to Sav a Lot and buying 10 gallons of soda, Cheese "food" spread, chips, TV dinners..... Am IO the only one that witnesses this at local stores? The parents dont even know let alone care. "Whatever is easiest" That is the order of the day. Convenience is killing us!

Teach the kids about good wholesome local grown food - even try growing some of their own!! I dont impy shoving asparagus, sprouts and beans down the kids throats and telling them to shut up and like it. Rather, kids eat what parents eat and they live what they see.

The focus should be on educating PARENTS and providing the resources for every family to learn about healthy foods and top grow their own food. As George W used to say - it aint Rocket Surgery.

This topic pisses me off. This is ludicrous Bloomberg. It is stupid - for lack of a better word. Just Stupid. Now he will be able to claim that he was concerned for our children's health when he runs again. Like the Working Familes and Tax issues we are seeing in the Presidential Posturing today.

Spend my tax dollars on EDUCATION and opportunities for people to grow their own - or more managed co-ops. Cmon!

Jon Stewart tore this topic up. He wouldn't stop talking about it for a week..

What does this topic have to do with the rising of Buffalo as a great city again? Why not an editorial about gun control? Or fireworks?

"The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City."

Parental powers over NYC's citizens is missing from the above duties.

Even though well-intentioned, never-the-less the restriction would be intrusive.

I almost spit out my Mt. Dew when I read this!

The Seneca Indians will soon start selling the biggest cups of pop you have ever seen! :)

i can't stand this initiative. i find it so ridiculous for this to even be an issue concerning government. our government should be focused on public infrastructure, education, healthcare, and the like. these efforts should be redirected into health education in schools rather than regulating what a person can consume. teach a kid that soda/pop is best consumed in small dosages. you know what they say, give a man a fish...

I don't care if you're Republican or Democrat, stay out of my life. Don't tell me what I can put in my body, be it a Big Mac, a 16 ounce soda, or a penis. I don't need some a**hole in Washington, Albany, or that little Umpa Lumpa mayor of New York City dictating what I eat or drink or who I screw. Most of these jerks can't take care of their own s***, let alone take care of mine. STAY THE H*** OUT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES!