Consumer health

In 2012, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a ban on sugary dinks (e.g., sodas, teas, and energy drinks) larger than 16 oz. in restaurants, delis, sports arenas, movie theaters and food carts. The bold public health decision was made in an effort to curb obesity and diabetes rates in the city, where more than half of the adult population was overweight or obese. While some lauded the measure for its health-promoting intentions, many others believed that the policy would harm small business profits and too severely limited the freedom of consumers to make their own choices. Ultimately, the state’s highest court overturned the measure. Despite the failure of the ban in New York City, the proposition highlighted an increasing focus on the role of foods and beverages—and sugary drinks in particular—in the obesity epidemic.