Judge Tosses Out NYC Mayor’s Large Sugary Drink Ban
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Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A state Supreme Court judge dismissed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s large sugary drink ban Monday, calling the ban “arbitrary and capricious.”
Judge Martin Tingling ruled the soda ban “would not only violate the separation of powers doctrine, it would eviscerate it. Such an evisceration has the potential to be more troubling than sugar sweetened beverages.”
The ban on sodas larger than 16 ounces was scheduled to go into effect on Tuesday.
The decision is a major defeat for Mayor Bloomberg, who championed the ban.
In a news conference following the court ruling, Bloomberg said, “We’re talking about lives versus profits.”
“If we are serious about fighting obesity, we have to be honest about what causes it.”
“While other people wring their hands … in New York City we’re doing something about it… It would be irresponsible not to try to do everything we can to save lives,” he said.
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