Bottoms up New York City (NYC), finally, a judge with common sense has put a stop to NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s ban on large sugary drinks which was to take effect on March 12, 2013. The judge’s ruling came down on March 11, 2013. Reuters and NBC news contributed to this article.
Self- appointed food police Sherriff Bloomberg’s quest to dictate what is healthy and acceptable for everyone did not sit well in the stomach of State Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling in Manhattan who burped out that the new law was "arbitrary and capricious" and declared it invalid.
The American Beverage Association and other business groups had sued the city challenging the ban, and McDonalds and Pepsi had argued that the new law was inconsistent since it would still permit grocery and convenience stores to sell the drink in any size.
Bloomberg who has taken on smoking, fat, sugar and salt consumption as part of his plan to make the citizens of Gotham City more healthy by making it against the law to sell sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces. Bloomberg even went after those who used baby formula in place of breast feeding.
Tingling ruled that the city was “enjoined and permanently restrained from implementing or enforcing the new regulations. “
Bloomberg responded to the ruling on Twitter, stating "We believe @nycHealthy [NYC Health Dept.] as the legal authority and responsibility to tackle causes of the obesity epidemic, which kills 5,000 NYers a year." Bloomberg also said the city plans to appeal the decision as soon as possible. "We are confident the measure will ultimately be upheld," he wrote.
The American Beverage Association released a statement; “the court ruling provides a sigh of relief to New Yorkers and thousands of small businesses in New York City that would have been harmed by this arbitrary and unpopular ban. With this ruling behind us, we look forward to collaborating with city leaders on solutions that will have a meaningful and lasting impact on the people of New York City.”
Bloomberg promises said the city plans to appeal the ruling. "We are confident the measure will ultimately be upheld," he wrote.
Bloomberg may have good intentions, but allowing the government to dictate what we can drink, eat, or tells us whether or not a mother should breast feed is not only an infringement on our privacy and rights it’s also setting a dangerous precedent. If not stopped now, you have to ask yourself what’s next on his list.
Bloomberg was elected to run a city, there are plenty of issues to keep Bloomberg busy, he does not need to nor has a right to meddle in our private lives. Bloomberg and his ego will not go quietly and put this one in the loss column. Instead he will waste thousands of tax payers’ dollars fighting a ridiculous issue. The people of the Big Apple deserve better, spend that money on something that will benefit them and stay out of their lives and bedrooms.
Kudos to Judge Tingling for putting the Mayor in his place, the next time I am in the City I would be proud to buy his honor a drink, in fact let’s make it a 32 ounce Big Gulp.
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