Coverage on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed limit on sweet drinks being sold in restaurants to 16 ounces per drink received extensive coverage today that was largely focused on reaction to his proposal.
ABC World News (5/31, story 7, 2:05, Sawyer) reported, "A battle cry from the bold, outspoken Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, who created a firestorm, proposing a ban of super-sized sugary sodas, including sweetened teas and energy drinks. ... He says the epidemic of obesity is so dire in this country, someone has to act." ABC (Alfonsi) explained, "The sale of any sweetened drunk larger than 16 ounces, not at grocery stores but at restaurants, movie theaters, even stadiums would be illegal." The story mentions other equally or higher calorie foods including orange juice, candy bars, doughnuts, and milkshakes and questions the effectiveness of the proposal. ABC followed with an interview with Mayor Bloomberg.
The CBS Evening News (5/31, story 6, 2:40, Pelley) also featured an interview with the mayor, who said, "Every study shows that you will eat a very big proportion of whatever is put in front of you. And if you have to make a conscious effort to go to another cup, you're less likely to do it." CBS (Miller) explained, "Americans consume 200 to 300 more calories a day than they did 30 years ago. That's largely due to sugary drinks that contain from high fructose corner syrup."
NBC Nightly News (5/31, story 5, 2:50, Lauer) reported, "With America's obesity epidemic getting worse, the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg is determined to do something about it." The story quoted the mayor saying, "If you want to act irresponsibly, as long as you're doing it to yourself, that's up to you, but in New York City, we have we estimate a $4 billion cost in dealing with obesity, and the public is picking up that tab." NBC followed with health commentary by its chief medical editor, Nancy Snyderman, MD, who said, "Although a lot of people in government are going to say this is a big step into your personal and private life, a lot of other people are saying this is good public health."
The New York Times 
(6/1, A22, Hartocollis, Subscription Publication) reports, "More than a few New Yorkers took it especially hard Thursday when they learned that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg wanted to take away their plus-size sodas in restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums, arenas and mobile food carts, as a way, he said, of fighting obesity." The story also notes that "since peaking in 1998, American consumption of carbonated sugary drinks has fallen by 24 percent," and "childhood obesity appears to be leveling off across the country, and even declining slightly in New York City and Los Angeles."
(6/1, A22, Hartocollis, Subscription Publication) reports, "More than a few New Yorkers took it especially hard Thursday when they learned that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg wanted to take away their plus-size sodas in restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums, arenas and mobile food carts, as a way, he said, of fighting obesity." The story also notes that "since peaking in 1998, American consumption of carbonated sugary drinks has fallen by 24 percent," and "childhood obesity appears to be leveling off across the country, and even declining slightly in New York City and Los Angeles."
The Wall Street Journal (6/1, A3, Saul, Grossman, Subscription Publication) focused on the fact that the restriction would only apply to some sources such as restaurants, and not to grocery stores or convenience stores. It cited experts criticizing it as useless or ridiculous, though others were cited approving the idea as creative and possibly effective.
(6/1, A3, Saul, Grossman, Subscription Publication) focused on the fact that the restriction would only apply to some sources such as restaurants, and not to grocery stores or convenience stores. It cited experts criticizing it as useless or ridiculous, though others were cited approving the idea as creative and possibly effective.
The AP (6/1, Choi) reports, "The ban, which would be the first of its kind in the nation, comes at a time when soda consumption has been declining." Still, "Bloomberg's office said the single largest driver of rising obesity rates is sugary drinks."
(6/1, Choi) reports, "The ban, which would be the first of its kind in the nation, comes at a time when soda consumption has been declining." Still, "Bloomberg's office said the single largest driver of rising obesity rates is sugary drinks."
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