Mayor Bloomberg passed his ban on giant sodas yesterday — then dared anyone who doesn’t like it to try and fight him.
“I just spent roughly $600 million of my own money to try to stop the scourge of tobacco, and I’m looking for another cause,” the billionaire mayor boasted as he scoffed at the beverage industry’s anti-ban war chest.
“I don’t know that [the ban opposition] is well-funded,” he said before asking a reporter, “How much were they spending again?”
When he got no answer, he snipped, “Thank you. Next question.”
Shortly before Bloomberg kicked sand in the face of his pro-soda opponents, his handpicked Board of Health members yesterday passed the first-in-the-nation ban on selling sugary drinks in large cups.
Starting March 12 next year, theaters, sporting venues, food carts and restaurants subject to Department of Health cleanliness letter grades can no longer sell sugar-laden drinks, such as soda, fruit punch and lemonade, in cups larger than 16 ounces.
The new rule does not forbid refills, and exempts sugar-free soda and unsweetened tea.
It also does not restrict sugary drinks that might have some nutritional value, such as 100 percent fruit juice and dairy products.
But eateries with self-serve fountains must provide customers with cups that are 16 ounces or less, regardless of what kind of drinks are chosen.
The Board of Health passed the ban by an 8-0 vote, with one member, Dr. Sixto Caro, abstaining.
“This is the biggest step a city has taken to curb obesity,” Bloomberg said.
Eliot Hoff, of the newly formed New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, blasted the vote yesterday, saying:
“It is a political solution and not a health solution, and [the city is] banning certain-sized beverage in certain establishments . . . when you could still get your Big Gulp at 7-Eleven.”
In fact, the ban will not affect any convenience stores, since they do not get DOH letter grades.
Many residents yesterday complained that they didn’t like to see Bloomberg again playing the role of nanny.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” said West Village resident Joanna Gilbertson, 39. “I don’t think the government should legislate what or how much people should drink.”
Workers at the under-construction Freedom Tower thought it was ironic that they now had lost the freedom to drink out of as large a cup as they like.
“This is America, and we should have the freedom to make the right choices for ourselves,” said Eric Glazer, 49, a construction surveyor at 1 World Trade Center, a k a the Freedom Tower.
Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, which opens at the end of the month, will immediately enforce the ban and not wait until March, said operator Bruce Ratner.
Additional reporting by Kate Kowsh and Gillian Kleiman