When they outlaw soda drinking only the outlaws will drink soda.

There is one thing that a lot of people don't understand - refined sugar doesn't hold any nutritional value - it is addictive and poison to the body. Unfortunately, the voices of nutrition don't have the same amount of money that Pepsi and Coke do. I see both sides, one of the government making choices for us but another of the tax payers picking up the bill for obesity. (it feels like the seat belt law to me) Regardless of what happens, I sincerely hope this opens people's eyes to what is actually good for them and what is slick marketing.

I think education is key. But in the end, people need to be able to make choices for themselves, even if others feel those choices are not the best. If someone wants to eat, drink, or consume something until they burst, it's their personal choice....not the government's. If they start taking away our freedom to make these kinds of personal choices, that leaves anything up for grabs. Scary!

Instead, we can all celebrate the GIANT DONUT!

The point about diet soda promoting obesity is true. But then ban them as well.

Yes, it's like another Prohibition. And, then again, it's not. You can go to the supermarket and get whatever you want. If you MUST have Mountain Dew, you can go to Gristede's. Otherwise you can get whatever the venue offers - which is limited, but hey - it's limited now. Can I get a Dr Brown's Celray at Yankee Stadium, diet or otherwise? That would be no. So how is taking Pepsi or Coke off the shelf there any worse?

And, um, we do have laws against cocaine, LSD, heroin and, of course, marijuana. The Prohibition point can be made for them as well. Why not open those floodgates as well?

Which, of course, the pro-pot people are saying anyway...

Whether we think we are or not, this nation, ultimately - as all other industrialized nations on the planet have - will institute single payer health care. People abusing their health - even now, even if by choice - do drive up the costs of health insurance and health care. Once we're gotten to single payer it will become a matter of tax policy - are we gonna subsidize the lifestyles of the obese by choice?

So where do we draw the line? Fried foods? Things that use pink slime? All foods that include high fructose corn syrup?

It is what it is - yes, Bloomberg is hypocritical about this. So is the entire society.

Once you open the door to Government controlling you life ,you can look at more than the loss of soda . this is what obama care has brought us ,the Government pays for insurance so they can tell us what to eat and drink ...I hope you know what is coming next .If your to old or to sick to warrant the cost to be paid by insurance companies . "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind".

Bloomberg is an IDIOT. Doesn't he have bigger issues then soda in NYC???

Big Brother Bloomberg, This is what happens when you have too much money and power.

It get better - he calls obese people "beasts" http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/middle-class-guy/2012/jun/2/mayor-bloomberg-calls-obese-people-beasts/

When I go to the movies with my kids, it costs me $40 for the tickets. The difference in price between the smallest size soda ( exorbitant) and the HUGE bucket of soda is something like $.50. So we share a soda and save $15. Do I have to go before a panel and explain myself? This is rediculous. And, BTW, there are so many contradictory studies about what foods do what to you that I don't believe anyone can say something like " diet sodas make you fat". Whole grains make you fatter. Every couple of years scientific opinion swings to a new paradigm - Mara rind is good for you, no, margarine is bad for you, low-fat is good, oh, but that makes the foods high in carbs, so maybe low carbs, no whole grains, no definitely not if they contain gluten, but oh, gluten-free foods have some of the highest glycemic indices...what? Stop trying to pretend anyone really has a grip on how to make most people eat in a way that keeps them healthy. People need to decide for themselves what is and isn't working.

Outlaw soda pop and legalize marijuana,way ta go moron,,this is the result of an over bloated over-reaching government.

Big Brother Bloomberg only one hot dog per person at the ball game. This guy should be concerned about creating more jobs and lowering NY City Taxes

I'm no fan of legislating behavior, but how about this angle: the explosive rise in YOUR healthcare insurance costs are largely due to the effect of diabetes. One survey says a third of all medical costs in the US are tied to this disease, one that almost totally preventable. We legislate seat belts, helmets for bikes and motorcycles, why? Because we don't think individuals can make the right choices- how is this different? Would you support it if it cut your health insurance and property taxes in half?

Bloomberg is a prime example why you don't want a rich person in political positions. They don't want to impact their fellow rich guys, in fear of impacting their own businesses and investments, so they come up with these laws that restrict freedom but increases profit. Two 16 ounce drinks cost more than one 32 ounce drink. The vendor and supplier will make more money.
The Real Answer: Stop subsidizing Corn and Cane farmers. Sugar products at the counter will cost more money and level prices between healthy choices and bad ones. Especially, products made with High Fructose Corn Syrup. Its banned in Europe. Why, because scientists, who developed the product for farm animals, reported it fattened cows and chickens faster than regular sugar. And, its cheaper than real, cane sugar.

Laura, education about healthful nutrition hasn't helped. You can't tell me that "the people" haven't heard about the dangers of consuming too much sugar, whether it be in sodas, fruit juices, cereals or almost anything else they eat. Yet, they choose to eat or drink those foods regardless of the information. They are addicted to the sweet taste and don't or can't convince themselves to break the habit...They also don't recognize the fact or don't care about the fact that those eating decisions are costing them more money in health care (which we all subsidize) than might cost them if they bought healthier foods...They can easily start saving money by buying seltzer instead of colas and mixing a small amount of a good fruit juice in a glass and adding the seltzer to fill it up. My wife and I bought some lounge chairs the other day and I was surprised to see that they now sell oversized models because so many people are obese. They cost more money also. Frank Bruni wrote an excellent article in the Sunday Times about this same thing. Stand on any supermarket checkout line and notice the xtra large bottles or 6 packs of colas that the fattest people are buying. They just don't care and we are all paying for it. I think Mayor Bloomberg is right. You have to start somewhere. Just as he banned cigarettes from restaurants and bars and people complained...it's working. If someone is so desperate to have their gigantic container of soda, make them buy a couple of smaller ones.

Education has helped in some instances. I think the majority of the people are capable of making their own decisions as to when enough is enough when it comes to anything.

In regard to smoking, you don't see the sale large cartons or multipacks of cigarettes being banned. And smoking is a bit different anyway, as one commenter mentioned on my facebook page. Smoke travels and affects the people around you. No one is going to pour soda down your throat if you don't want to drink it. But you have no choice but to breathe in the smoke of others if they are near you. Some people are well aware of the risks of smoking but do it anyway. It's their choice.

With choice comes taking responsibility. People are having more personal choices become restricted by legislation because many do not want to take responsibility for the decisions they make. I can just see it now - someone will turn around and sue a soda company because they got fat and purchased soda from that vendor, instead of taking responsibility for making their own choice. Just like when that woman sued McDonalds for spilling hot coffee on herself. Instead of taking responsibility for using her own common sense when handling a hot beverage she wanted to place blame on someone else.

If someone chooses to consume something that isn't necessarily the best for them, it should be their choice. But, they should take responsibility for the consequences.

What's scary is that if measures like this one pass, then it sets precedence. Governing bodies can use this as an example to restrict anything they want, whether we feel it's good or bad to put into our bodies. I don't know any two people that follow the same dietary regimen. We all have different metabolisms, health concerns, and amounts of physical activity. I might be able to eat 3 hot fudge sundaes every day and not get fat. Who's to say I shouldn't do that if I wanted to? (I'm not saying that I do that - but I'm trying to make a point. :) )

Everyone right now has a choice about what to eat and drink and how much. That's how it should be. Most people don't agree on the categories of what's good and bad. I'll give you an example - me, I try to eat organic produce whenever possible. But, there are others, including the government, that say non-organic produce is just as healthy. Would I want the government restricting my decision about what I am able to eat? No. Just because we don't agree on what's healthy, doesn't mean they should step in and treat me like a child.

Despite my libertarian inclinations, I agree with Mayor Bloomberg. We are a fat, sick nation, and a big share of the blame goes to the farm and food manufacturing interests, who have successfully created a nightmare of cheap, corn syrup-filled soda & processed food. I think the 'nanny state' or the conservative vs liberal arguments are bogus-I personally am against most of the drug laws on the books, but the State does have the responsibility and burden of countering the influence and power of Corporate America, especially where the health and welfare of the public is at stake.

To me, this particular issue does not have to do with political affiliation. It just has to do with common sense, SELF control (not governmental control), and retaining our personal freedoms. That's how come over the past few days I've seen people, regardless of which party they associate themselves with, unite (for the most part) against a proposal like this.

Additionally, we have to take responsibility for our own health and welfare - not the government. Just because the government says something is healthy or unhealthy doesn't make it so.

The old adage comes to mind regarding education, despite concerns, having the freedom to make your own choices: "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't force him to drink." The horse can decide for himself if he wants to drink and how much!

it's very difficult to change the culture of the "American" diet. Sugar laden cereals, enormous portions , fast food, etc. have all added to the poor choices many people make when it comes to eating. It begins at an early age when we offer children sweets as a reward or McDonalds and so on. With all the literature out there and information about good eating habits and exercise, you would think people would absorb these messages and do the right thing. Eventually , they will compromise the health of their organs -liver, kidney, etc. The liver of an obese person looks entirely different from that of a healthy individual. BTW, Some people deceive themselves by thinking that diet sodas are better for them, but they're just as bad because of the artificial ingredients. Common sense should rule.

Laura, nutritionists and Dr. Oz would agree with you. When the fat is taken out, it is sometimes replaced with more sugar. It's important to self educate and question everything. Many physicians are not nutrition savvy. Reading labels and keeping up with the latest information is important. There's also a great deal of confusion and contradictions in medicine and nutrition. So it's good to glean information from various sources and make comparisons. You seem to be aware of all this stuff. But, many in the public don't care and don't want to change their habits. Unfortunately, they'll be paying a high price for ignoring the warnings.

"Freedom means responsibility" as quoted by Michael Tomasky-journalist. He states that eating anything you want is indulgence not a definition of freedom.Those huge tubs of movie theater popcorn along with soda are a calorie nightmare, according to Dr. Keith Ayoob-prof. of pediatrics at Albert Einstein school of medicine. Why do people connect movie going with eating a whole serving of popcorn , giant size , absentmindedly. They are consuming thousands of calories in a short amount of time..So, although we see a lot wrong with our eating habits, it's up to the individual to make wise choices. Another law will not solve the problem. Be vigilent. Eat well and shop wisely. Be aware that supermarkets display certain products up front including huge bottles of cola..on sale. Be aware of the aroma of popcorn when entering a movie theater and think twice before eating such a large amount of saturated fat in one sitting.