Court Strikes Down NYC Ban On Large Size, Sugary Drinks
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- New York city's groundbreaking limit on the size of sugary drinks has been struck down by a judge.
The beverage industry and other opponents argued against it, calling it a "nanny measure" that would have hurt businesses.
"I definitely believe it's going to hurt my business," says Mary Cira, a New York pizza shop owner.
Over the weekend Cira got ready to toss nearly $1,000-worth of 20 ounce and 2 liter bottles of soda.
She was also planning to reprint menus.
"I have a Sicilian -- get a 2 liter soda," she said. "I have a combo special with a 2 liter soda."
If you ask New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg, specials like that are part of the problem.
He argued soda leads to obesity, speaking out on Sunday's "Face the Nation" on CBS.
"This is going to bankrupt the country," Bloomberg said. "Our medical industry can't handle it. Being overweight, it's the first time it's gone from a rich person's disease to a poor person's disease. We just got to do something."
Businesses that require a health department permit were affected -- movie theaters, fast food chains, even office cafeterias.
The ban was controversial from the start to the end.
"It's inappropriate," New York resident Laura Bielecki said. "People have a choice to pick which size of soda they want to purchase."
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