Sugary drinks portion cap rule

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. 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. == 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. 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. The city's attorneys said the number of ounces did not matter, and that the number lacked scientific evidence. 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. == 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. and a public hearing was held on July 24, 2012. On September 13, 2012, the Board of Health voted unanimously to accept the proposed limit. 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. Those plans fell through due to the invalidation of the regulation by New York Supreme Court Judge Milton Tingling on March 11, 2013. The mayor's office indicated that the city would appeal. On June 11, 2013, the DOHMH went to court to fight the ruling that blocked the limit. The amendment was repealed on July 9, 2015, effective August 8 that year. ==See also==