Sugary drinks portion cap rule

The sugary drinks portion cap rule,[1][2] also known as the soda ban,[2] was a proposed limit on soft drink size in New York City intended to prohibit the sale of many sweetened drinks more than 16 fluid ounces (0.47 liters) in volume to have taken effect on March 12, 2013.[3] On June 26, 2014, the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, ruled that the New York City Board of Health, in adopting the regulation, exceeded the scale of its regulatory authority and as such, was repealed.[1][4] The repealed regulation was codified in section 81.53 of the New York City Health Code (title 24 of the Rules of the City of New York).[5]

Soft drink size limit protest sign placed on a delivery truck by New York's Pepsi bottler

Regulation

Under the plan, all New York City regulated restaurants, fast-food establishments, delis, movie theaters, sports stadiums, and food carts would be barred from selling sugar-sweetened drinks in cups larger than 16 ounces (0.5 liters). The regulation would not apply to drinks sold in grocery stores or convenience stores, including 7-Eleven, which are regulated by the state.[6] In addition, the regulation would exclude: drinks that were more than 70 percent fruit juice, diet sodas, drinks with at least 50% milk or milk substitute, and alcoholic beverages.[7]

Support and opposition

The regulation was strongly supported by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and continued to be supported by his successor, Mayor Bill de Blasio. Approximately 32,000 written and oral comments were received in support of the proposal, and approximately 6,000 comments were received in opposition.[8][2] Opponents include beverage companies such as PepsiCo and their independent bottlers and distributors serving the city, which have launched campaigns against the limit. These opposing companies claim the limit would affect lower income families in a negative way and force them to drink less of the unhealthy beverages.[9] The proposed regulation was also opposed by New York State Conference of the NAACP and the Hispanic Federation, a representative organization for 90 Latino nonprofit agencies providing health and human services in the New York metropolitan area. Coca-Cola has been a major sponsor of the NAACP initiative for healthy eating. Pepsi and Coca-Cola have sponsored the NAACP New York State chapter annual conferences, and Coca-Cola was the 2014 co-chair of the Hispanic Federation Gala.[10] The city's attorneys say the number of ounces doesn't matter, and that the number lacks scientific evidence.[11]

Mayor Bill de Blasio also met with Mary Bassett, the city's commissioner for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, the deputy mayor for health and human services, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo Inc., and Dr Pepper Snapple Group in a continuing attempt to regulate the size of high sugary drinks. In September 2014, at the Clinton Global Initiative's annual conference in Manhattan, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and the Dr Pepper Snapple Group voluntarily pledged to reduce US calorie consumption in sugary drinks by an average of 20% by 2025.[12]

History

On May 30, 2012, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the portion cap rule, a proposed amendment to article 81 of the New York City Health Code, that would require "food service establishments" (FSEs) to cap at 16 ounces (475 mL) the size of cups and containers used to offer, provide, and sell sugary beverages.[2] On June 12, 2012, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) presented to the New York City Board of Health the proposed amendment.[2] On June 19, 2012, a notice of intention to amend article 81 was published in the City Record,[13] and a public hearing was held on July 24, 2012.[8]

On September 13, 2012, the Board of Health voted unanimously to accept the proposed limit.[14][15] The limit was to take effect six months after passage and be enforced by the city's regular restaurant inspection team, allowing business owners three months to adapt to the changes before facing fines.[16][17] Those plans fell through due to the invalidation of the regulation by New York Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling on March 11, 2013.[18] The mayor's office indicated that the city would appeal.[19] On June 11, 2013, the DOHMH went to court to fight the ruling that blocked the limit.[20] On July 30, 2013, the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division ruled against the proposed limit, saying it violates "the principle of separation of powers" and the board "failed to act within the bounds of its lawfully delegated authority".[2][21]

On June 26, 2014, the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, ruled that the New York City Board of Health, in adopting the sugary drinks portion cap rule, exceeded the scope of its regulatory authority.[1][4][22] The amendment was repealed on July 9, 2015, effective August 8 that year.

See also

References
  1. New York Statewide Coalition of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce v New York City Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene, 23 NY3d 681 (2014).
  2. New York Statewide Coalition of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce v New York City Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene, 110 AD3d 1 (1st Dept 2013).
  3. "New York City bans supersize sodas". BBC. September 13, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  4. Volokh, Eugene (June 27, 2014). "New York's highest court strikes down New York City big soda ban". Washington Post. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  5. "§ 81.53 Maximum Beverage Size. [Repealed]".
  6. Ax, Joseph (March 11, 2013). "Judge blocks New York City large-soda ban, Mayor Bloomberg vows fight". Reuters. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  7. Colvin, Jill (September 13, 2012). "New York Soda Ban Approved: Board Of Health OKs Limiting Sale Of Large-Sized, Sugary Drinks". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 30, 2012.
  8. "NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF AN AMENDMENT (§81.53) TO ARTICLE 81 OF THE NEW YORK CITY HEALTH CODE" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 7, 2015. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  9. Koebler, Jason (June 12, 2013). "Study: NY soda ban would be effective". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
  10. Shelley, Donna, Gbenga Ogedegbe, and Brian Elbel. "Same Strategy Different Industry: Corporate Influence on Public Policy." American Journal of Public Health 104.4 (2014): e9-e11.
  11. Ross, Barbara (June 11, 2013). "Soda ban jurisdiction argued in appeal of Bloomberg's limit on sugary drinks". New York Daily News. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  12. Saul, Michael Howard (October 16, 2014). "Forward Push on Soda Ban". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  13. City Rec, Jun. 19, 2012 at 1574
  14. Sadeghi-Nejad, Nathan (September 13, 2012). "NYC's Soda Ban Is A Good Idea, But A Tax Would Be Better". Forbes. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  15. City Rec, Sept. 21, 2012 at 2602
  16. Lerner, George (September 14, 2012). "New York health board approves ban on large sodas". CNN. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  17. "In 60 seconds: 1/21/13". Feedstuffs. January 18, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  18. Jaslow, Ryan (March 11, 2013). "Bloomberg "confident" soda ban will be upheld". CBS News. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  19. "Judge stops NYC ban on large sugary drinks, city plans appeal". CNN. March 11, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  20. Hajela, Deepti (June 11, 2013). "New York City soda ban appeal heads to court Tuesday". WABC TV. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  21. Chasmar, Jessica (July 30, 2013). "Appeals court upholds ruling against Mayor Bloomberg's soda ban". The Washington Times. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  22. "N.Y. Statewide Coalition of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce v. N.Y. City Dep't of Health & Mental Hygiene" (PDF). June 26, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
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