This is the third time our show has covered the Mayor’s sugar ban and just as before, we had every line ringing. And despite having more time to process the proposal, many of you are still against it, calling instead for more education initiatives in schools. I applaud Mayor Bloomberg for tackling this public health crisis, but feel the onus should be put on the businesses, not the consumer. Many New Yorkers have trouble affording one drink at the movies and end up sharing them as it is; now they have to pay for two. More of your thoughts posted below.

Days after announcing his controversial plan to ban large sugary drinks, Mayor Bloomberg visits Montefiore Medical Center to highlight the dangers of obesity… and two of his harshest critics were right by his side. Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer commended the Mayor on his proposal to take sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces out of City eateries. The Public Advocate praised Bloomberg for consistently setting “a visionary approach on areas of public health”; the Borough President insisted New Yorkers must stand with the Mayor on this issue, regardless of polls and political consequences.

The Mayor’s visit to the Bronx hospital comes a day after a NY1/Marist poll found 53 percent of New Yorkers surveyed feel the large sugary drink ban is a bad idea; 42 percent say it is a good one. Also, 52 percent say they are not convinced the ban will work, while 45 percent say they think it will help people lose weight.

Bloomberg said the City expects six thousand deaths linked to obesity this year. He also noted 60 percent of City residents qualify as obese, and $4 billion is spent annually on obesity-related treatments. On top of that, the Chair of Pediatrics at Montefiore said the number of children being treated for diabetes at the Children’s Hospital has risen 40 percent in the last two years.

Are you surprised by these statistics? Do you think the Mayor’s ban on big sugary beverages is warranted? Will it help New Yorkers lose weight? Why do you think some of the Mayor’s usual critics are standing behind him in this effort?

Respond with your thoughts using the link above.

Here we go again with more visions and more statistics.

Usually Mr. Dictator you pay to get your own way. So why did it change now.

What’s the method to this madness.

How many times have you disappointed us by not taking care of our every day needs
to live a little bit of a comfortable life in this city that we pay taxes in and many of
us were born in.

We have had to endure political and appointed people literally conducting crimes of
every kind and most getting away with it or some more than others just getting a slap
on the wrist.

How many boards to you and you alone control and demand behind closed doors the
outcome be in your favor and yours alone. We have been humiliated and disrespected
while attending all of these meetings whether it be rents, fare raises, schools, etc.
You have never considered us in any way at all. Parents and guardians alike almost
had a stroke trying to get someone to listen to their pleas and have to scream at
someone on the podium to stop texting while they try to get their point across.

So you see Mr. Dictator and all of your new found friends that seemed to have jumped
ship to be in your favor.

Unless as I have heard you offer when in Albany say out in the open to the lawmakers
that if they pass the bill that you wanted you would give to their local elections.

=AM WATCHING NY1 NEWS AND HERE’S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY=
COME OFF OF IT YOU TWO GUYS = YOU LOOK DOWN RIGHT STUPID COINCIDING WITH
THIS MAYOR.

THIS MAYOR HAS IGNORED THE ADVOCATE SINCE HE GOT ELECTED TO OFFICE AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE BUDDY BUDDY. GIVE US A BREAK = PLEASE =
THE ADVOCATE DOESN’T EVEN ANSWER HIS E-MAILS AND I VOTED FOR HIM AND ALL OF
HIS BS JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WHICH WHEN THEY ARE RUNNING THEY ALL MAKE IT SOUND AS THOUGH THEY WILL ALL DO WONDERS FOR US ALL. BUT WE HAD A RICH DICTATOR THAT PAID FOR THE THIRD TERM AND LOOK AT THE MESS WE ARE STILL IN.

REMEMBER WHEN WE CAN’T AFFORD OUR RENTS, FOOD, CLOTHING, FARES OR ANYTHING ELSE WE MIGHT NEED FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE JUST TO BE ABLE TO EXIST IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW BIG A CUP OF SLURPEE WE DRINK BECAUSE WHEN ONE DOESN’T HAVE ANY MONEY AND WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET BY ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL.

IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER HOW BIG A CUP THE SLURPEE MIGHT BE.

THE FEELING ONE HAS WHEN THEY HAVE NO MONEY TO MAKE ENDS MEET IS SO DEVASTATING AND UNLESS ONE HAS BEEN THEIR OR HAS COMPASSION FOR SOMEONE IN SUCH DIRE NEED THE PERSON WILL NEVER KNOW AND YOU MR. DICTATOR HAVE NEVER KNOWN OR EXPERIENCED EITHER ONE.

NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH CUOMO.

WHEN DOES IT ALL STOP.

BOTH BLOOMBERG AND CUOMO AND QUINN MAKE ALL THEIR DECISIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

Maxxiee
Morris Park

Just stupid.

If The Mayor is so concerned, why doesn't he ban high fructose corn syrup - the bigger culprit here.

Its just to buy two drinks rather than one and spend more on diminishing business.

The only ones benefiting here are the businesses.

and The City with yet another fine.

Bah Humbug!

Esmerelda
East Village

Are supermarlets going to be banned from selling big bottles of soda now too? Why not just tax to the extreme as was done with cigarettes? That seems to have worked.

Arlene
Sheepshead Bay

Something just clicked for me today:

If the mayor really wants to end obesity, he should stop fighting the minimum wage increase. Countless studies show that obesity declines as income increases--it lets people afford more fresh produce, eat less fast food (alongside large sodas), and it ends grocery deserts in low income areas. By keeping minimum wage below a living wage, Bloomberg's paternalistic government shows itself to be an abusive parent.

Andy
Park Slope

THERE ARE 6000 DEATHS LINKED TO OBESITY. SUGARY DRINKS ARE A CHOICE.

THERE ARE 83,000 ABORTIONS IN N.Y.C. EACH YEAR. THIS IS ALSO ABOUT A SITUATION INVOLVING CHOICE.

WHERE IS THE PERSPECTIVE?

THE DAY YOU ARE BORN, IS THE DAY YOU BEGIN TO DIE. LEAVE IT ALL ALONE.

JOE
BAY TERRACE

I do find the Mayors numbers surprising that 60 percent of New Yorkers can be qualified as obese, since he made the bold statement a few months ago that the life expectancy for city residents was at an all time high (except for Blacks and Hispanics). The Mayor loves statistics and numbers like most businessmen do, Maddoff was a whiz with manipulating imaginary numbers too for what that was worth. Just like with almost everything else this Mayor does, his concept of cause and affect are so distorted that it makes a fun house mirror look normal. As for some politicians rushing to agree with him, well it's an election year and they have to get their names in the papers and on television.

Kids for the most part sit in his programming facilities, I mean schools, and are primed for those all important standardized tests. From what I have been told gym and recess are a thing of the past and due to many of these children falling behind thanks to the dogma of these tests they spend most of their summers rotting in Bloomberg's institutional learning facilities. The ones who do luck up and escape the worthless education they are getting in the poor neighborhoods have no resources and some of the worst parks imaginable to even think about going to do any type of physical activity. So in short we have kids who can barely read and are too out of shape to even run a lap.

As for the adults the pace of trying to survive in this city at this point is what is helping kill many people slowly. You have to grind everyday to make ends meet, you spend more time commuting like cattle to a job you have to work to pay your rent, so things like a proper diet and exercise fall by the wayside. And as much as the Mayor wants to blame the quick fix that is fast food and it's giant sodas, I notice he never mentions the fact that healthy food are often too expensive and not even available to many low to middle income New Yorkers, and the big box chain stores that all of these politicians take money from have made a killing selling bulk quantities of the same beverages he now is on some stupid crusade against. And like many others have said the sodas you get at a movie or eating establishment is probably more then 60% ice anyway, so this whole issue is pretty empty.

RL
The Bronx

Are you surprised by these statistics?
No, I applaud the Mayor in this effort, at least he is trying to help.

Do you think the Mayor’s ban on big sugary beverages is warranted?
Yes, it is evident people cannot manage themselves.

Will it help New Yorkers lose weight?
Yes, people will usually drink less when given less

Why do you think some of the Mayor’s usual critics are standing behind him in this effort?
No, usually they will support their sponsors

Damond
Clinton Hill

I'm overweight and have been since I was a kid, I'm glad the mayor is doing what he's doing and at least there's an open discussion about these calorie packed sugar filled soft drinks. When I was a kid my brother and I drank Orange Juice in the morning but washed every other meal down with sugar filled iced tea ,soda or koolade. I'm sure my parents just thought that they were getting us our favorite refreshing drinks but thanks to the mayor I know better with my daughter. The mayor isn't banning these drinks, he's just saying everything in moderation.

David
Riverdale

It is none of the government’s business what we imbibe, inhale, ingest or shoot up or in what quantities.

Joe
Port Richmond

What I find amazing is that while Mayor Bloomberg is essentially trying to make sugary drinks illegal, Governor Cuomo is in the process of decriminalizing marijuana!! I would think that the leadership of our state would want to be on the same page, these two aren't even reading the same book!!!

Bloomberg is going to be remembered as a meddlesome little rich man who tried to control people's lives and really achieved very little of importance. We know soda is very fattening (especially as it is made with high fructose corn syrup), but this is no excuse to take away people's absolute right to buy it in as large a size as the vendors care to sell it. This is a democracy, not an autocracy. If Bloomberg really cared about New Yorkers he would lobby to have high fructose corn syrup banned and declare war on the manufacturers of junk food. I suspect he has the extra revenue from the higher price of two sodas to replace one big one because there will be more tax to pay. There will also be more plastic and waxed paper to go into the landfills. Bloomberg is the quintessential "little man" with the Napoleon complex.

Frances
East Village

It is sad that people cannot control themselves from sugary drinks and there has to be a government intervention to control. People should have more self control.

Kanon
Flushing

Its not the sugar ban that people are objecting to. Its his idiotic approach. And no it wont help. If 53 % were against it its because his approach is fascist . After soda its1 slice of pizza,1small candy bar and 1 slice of bread with breakfast.

Don
Astoria

I think this is a great bill but it doesn't go far enough. I would be 100% behind a tax on soda and other very unhealthy foods. When people make bad choices about their health, it costs taxpayers dollars in countless ways. Therefore, I see nothing wrong with government policies and taxes that make unhealthy choices more difficult and/expensive.

Elizabeth
Astoria

I support the mayor on this initiative. If you want more soda you are free to order more but consumers tend to drink the given amount and they are paying for this both in health and price. Consumers are still free to choose.

Karen
Bay Ridge

Bill de Blasio & Scott Stringer backing Mayor Bloomberg could all just come down to Money and Power -- they can make strange bed fellows. It is going on all over the country -- just look at the Wisconsin recall election of Governor Walker and Tom Barrett. Governor Walker was able to raise over 30 million for his re-election campaign from out-of-state millionaire donors as opposed to Tom Barrett's 4 million. Elections are now being bought and paid for! Wy should the upcoming Mayoral race be any different?

I am surprised that Mayor Bloomberg has not used his billions to censor this show because of the bad press that he can receive and has previously received.

Lisa

My family will benefit from the ban. We have family history of diabetic, high blood pressure, heart problems, etc., and you name it. I would like he add some diet education program to public schools K-12.

Thanks Mayor.

Li
Upper East Side

I am 13 years old and I agree with this law. I think that if the Mayor sees something wrong with our community, he should do something to change it. We are always complaining about obesity in children and in America. We complain and complain and we don't do anything about it. Mayor Bloomberg sees that this is wrong and he is trying his hardest to fix it.

Asher

This Mayor doesnt care about people. The issue for him is strategy and politics. I feel that he is trying to phase out low to middle class jobs that soda companies provide while at the same time driving out the middle class and bringing in wealthy people to take their place. People need to wake up!

Ryan
Fort Greene

Out of all possible more important things to worry about, Bloomberg decides to ban big cups of soda. This has to be a joke.

Tell me something, what would be the logic of banning super sized beverages, if someone could get a small or medium sized soda, and the restaurant has "free refills" available to customers?

This will not change how people drink soda, soda to speak. It will only change the revenue of beverages at fast food establishes. As long as soda is available for purchase from supermarkets, bodegas etc, this is a completely joke. Crack is illegal, yet there are still plenty of people addicted to that drug, with access to it.

I think the Mayor should focus just on something else, instead of worrying about how much soda people drink with their fast food meals.

T. Alexander

Mayor Bloomberg is a BUSINESSMAN, folks. BUSINESS will be the BIG WINNER in this. So will SODA COMPANIES!!!! So will the CITY with ADDITIONAL TAXES PAID for two bottles of soda instead of one!!!

SMART way to raise taxes without appearing to do so.

Kathy

Why ban our drinks that we pay for? It’s just kind of outrageous that the mayor bans our drinks we want. Unfair Mayor!

Davis

His intention of Banning the purchase of large sodas is to decrease the epidemics of diabetis in NYC.

If NYorkers really want large volumes of sugary drinks, they can still buy two drinks instead of one.

Those who want to indulge should also consider to pay more for their health treatments.
We can just not have everything we want.

If the Mayor really wanted to help eliminate obesity he needs to address the overall issues of the costs for healthier eating habits. It is more expensive to eat healthier. Soda is cheaper than 100% juices. Fast food is also cheaper to buy than salads. Eliminating the size of drinks sold in fast food places is not going to eliminate obesity.

The Mayor is acting as a pater familias to people who are sui juris. The slippery slope is leading to a true parade of horribles. Adults do not allow yourselves to be treated like immature children.

Mi

Mayor Bloomberg should live and let live. We should be able to drink whatever we want. Mr. Bloomberg should find a way to resolve the problem with the buget cuts that will hurt the children and parents of nyc. instead of trying to tell us what to drink

Will the smaller bottle size cost the same as the larger one being replaced? I also see this as a way for companys to make more money on us too. Businesses may profit by selling the new size product for the same price as the larger one, just like some companies have done with orange juice and ice cream containers. I also understand the concept of more sugar will lead to unhealthy side effects. There should be more informative ads out there about good food and drink choices, rather down size and make it illegal to have larger sugary drinks.

Dave
Montgomery, N.Y.

I find Bloomberg's sudden dislike for sugary drinks suspicious. How come he did not think the same back when he introduced Snaple into our schools? School vending machines have been full of sugary drinks for a long time and now he decides to do something about it!!! There has to be some other reason for this sudden ban. Maybe MONEY??????

Tony
Queens

Poverty is driving the obesity rates, sugary drinks are a symptom not the cause. Healthy food and drinks (other than water) cost boku bucks. loaf of white bread, $1. loaf of whole wheat or grain bread, $4.79. cost of large bottle of soda, 99c. cost of large organge juice $3.99 or more. fresh fruits and vegetables, very expensive. what is a family with kids who eat lots of sandwiches to do? the cost of living a healthy life continues to rise in NYC and working families are going to food pantries in record numbers. What kind of food do you think food pantries have? I’m sure that they don’t have $5 loaves of bread.

Meryl
Manhattan

This is the dumbest thing ever. A supersize soda doesnt have more calories than a value meal from Mcdonalds, this ban is completely irrelevant. That is disrespectful for him to say what he thinks people should and should not drink.

Krystal
Brooklyn

Is a good idea to control the sugar , but why the major don't sat anythings about the cigarette that kills more people than sugar drinks , smoke of second hand kills our children , woman etc. for people who smokes in public areas. Such as street,park etc.

The sugary drink ban feels kind of arbitrary. One can still buy king size candy bars, half gallons of ice cream, and supersized fries no questions asked. How about we shoot for better all-around outcomes by giving kids a K-12 health & nutrition curriculum and healthy food in their cafeterias? AND maybe we run an ad campaign - or institute a label requirement - showing how many sugar cubes are in whatever it is they are eating?

Anni
Manhattan

I am a fan of the ban. For all the callers up in arms about it.

Talking about personal freedom. I say that's all fine and well as long as everyone else doesn't have to for your decisions in the form of higher healthcare costs. Our country is about individual freedom but not at the expense of everyone else. That's just irresponsible.

Nicole
Manhattan

The government should educate the people on the health risks of sugar. But as american in the land of the free we should have the right to choose. This would be a loss of freedom. And no I am not a soda drinker. But once you give up your rights you don't get them back. Watch out

New Yorkers don't need the government telling them what to now drink. Bloomberg should worry less about controlling and taking away our freedoms and should focus more on education. At this point, he should just be out of office. He threw a tantrum when Guiliani was in and there was a chance he would stay for a 3rd term post 9-11...Now Bloomberg is illegally in for his 3rd term and is just taking our freedoms away one by one. We are adults and can make our own choices. We don't need a "nanny state" or the government telling us how to live. King Bloomberg is on the tax payers payroll, which he seems to forget!

Jill
Manhattan

I'm overweight & don't drink soda at all. The issue of obesity & related health problems is far more complex than the mayor seems to realize. Such a proposed law should be accompanied by a program that endorses access to healthy foods. Many poor communities are grappling with obesity because the low-cost options in their neighborhood are unhealthy.

Lauren
SoHo

This is not about depriving individuals of their rights, it's about regulating businesses who take advantage of people. Hank from Mott Haven was on the right track. The food industry is responsible for making it hard to get a normal portion of food and drink.

Margaret
Lower East Side

People are free to make their own decision until they expect others to bear the burden of expense. If people are in favor of Obamacare, or even medicaid, then the government and other tax payers should have an input. If you want to live an unhealthy life-- smoking, drinking, being obese, then opt out of government assisted healthcare.

Jeff
Midtown

This is not his opinion. This is the opinion of the Medical Community. Bravo for being the messenger. Soft drink companies prey on the public's addiction and get richer and the population gets more obese and more unhealthy. Bravo Bloomberg

New Yorkers need to think before supporting such a draconian edict. I thought we live in a country founded on freedom of choice, but it appears that too many people are willing to abdicate personal responsibility to bureaucrats. As the government erodes one freedom in the interest of "for our own good," believe me another one will follow. I am appalled that so many New Yorkers swallow the "party line." It's really frightening that people don't want to think for themselves anymore.

Keith
Inwood

I think people should make their own decisions however when the city and state are picking up the bill for their health care with Medicaid and other like programs then they have a responsibility to push them towards the right choice. If you want to disregard your health via diet and then why should the government pay for their health care? The mayor isn't banning it out right just the overindulgence of unhealthy drinks. This topic has been discussed in various stages for a number of years and still there are not enough people doing anything about it. Too many kids still drinking huge amounts of soda, not enough parents are or are able to regulate their kids when out of their site. No one needs to drink that much soda at one time.

Damion
Washington Heights

Bring back gym that's right... And they need to get at the companies who make the crap. When they changed the cereal to whole grain we had no choice but to get used to the taste of the new Cocoa Puffs. Change the product not the quantity.

Pamela
Brooklyn

Bloomberg should start worrying about all these schools he's closing and making all these other schools overcrowded. Before there was after school programs now there are none in most schools because of the cuts. If kids have no gym how are they going to learn how to exercise. Some parents have to work two jobs just to maintain a household. So yes they do eat out instead of cooking. He's just makes no sense to me. He can't compare himself to. The average person.

I have no problem withe the ban, IF the government is gonna pay for my medical. I understand thet we are all fighting for a healthier America, but if you are not gonna take care of me dont tell me what to eat or drink.

Of course this ban is ludicrous. What I would like to know is where people draw the moral distinction between this soda ban and a ban on say heroin or marijuana. Isnt that part of what freedom is all about?

There are so many other things that could be banned and the Mayor picked on soda? Being obese is not harm anyone else just the person themselves. Why not bring back prohibition and ban alcohol because it causes death to others like drunk driving and abusive alcoholics? It seems like banning things is the easiest solution the Mayor can take instead of a more difficult solution like educating and encouraging healthier lifestyle. It is ludicrous how the government always focus on the most pathetic issues to avoid dealing with more serious issues. Totally absurd!

the mayor can try to band large drinks if he wants....people will only purchase two or more of the smaller drinks.

Darin
Jamaica

Are you kidding me?! Is this what's going on here? Americas best is fighting Wars in Iraq and the best you've got is Banning Sugared Drinks!!!!! No one holds a Gun to your head making you drink these products!! Do you really need the government to place a Ban on these goods for you to decide to stop drinking them??!! This is Weak!! Attack something more IMPORTANT!!! This shouldn't even be a TOPIC!!!!

Jeff

I support the ban. Sixteen ounces is 1/4 of a gallon! Would anyone sit and drink even 16 ounces of water in one sitting?!? No, they would think that was too much. So why would you think it's ok to drink 24 or 32 ounces of soda? I say they should ban anything over 12 ounces per serving. Studies now suggest that even diet sodas are causing weight gain and health problems. Drink water! Drink soda in moderation, if at all. My 9-year-old son has never tasted soda - and doesn't plan to. He knows it's unhealthy.

If you want to drink sodas: don't apply for medicaid health insurance. also buy and pay your health coverage
in other words do not transfer your medical bills to the goverment if you are not reponsible for your habits.

Victor