- A state judge deemed the New York City Soda Ban proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg illegal on Monday, meaning the ban will not take effect as planned on Tuesday, March 12.
- New York Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling made his decision after finding the regulations “fraught with arbitrary and capricious consequences.” He went on to say, “The simple reading of the rule leads to the earlier acknowledged uneven enforcement even within a particular city block, much less as a whole…the loopholes in this rule effectively defeat the purpose of the rule.”
- The regulation would’ve banned the sale of sugary beverages larger than 16 ounces, with the exception of fruit juices, milkshakes, alcoholic beverages, and coffee. This would have affected restaurants, food carts and vendors, delis and concession stands at movie theaters and the like.
- Mayor Bloomberg reportedly did not anticipate the ban being blocked, and even recently stated “I think you’re not going to see a lot of push back here.”
BREAKING: Judge invalidates New York City’s large soda ban, calls it “arbitrary and capricious” – Reuters bit.ly/W29I5d
— Dan McDermott (@danielpmcdermot) March 11, 2024
Just gotta get this off my chest: Bloomberg never proposed a soda “ban.” He proposed very modest limits on some sales. Not a ban at all.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 11, 2024
Judge Martin Tingling rules the soda ban “would not only violate the separation of powers doctrine, it would eviscerate it.”
— ABC World News (@ABCWorldNews) March 11, 2024
It was never a ‘soda ban’ people. It was a limit on the gallons of fructose syrup you can guzzle from 1 cup.
— Larry Lac (@llac) March 11, 2024
The mayor says he will appeal the decision by Judge saying soda ban will not be imposed.
— Cynthia McFadden (@CynthiaMcFadden) March 11, 2024
Learn more about the soda ban here.