New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced plans to implement a ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters and street carts. Bloomberg defended his controversial proposal to ban large-sized sugary soda drinks in the city, arguing that it will combat obesity and cut health-care costs.
Coca-Cola Co fired back at the Bloomberg administration on Thursday, saying its proposed ban of large-sized soft drinks insulted New Yorkers.
“New Yorkers expect and deserve better than this. They can make their own choices about the beverages they purchase,” Coca-Cola said in a statement.
Bloomberg noted that he is not preventing people from buying large drinks in regular stores, but maintained that obesity is a major public health problem in New York, and the rest of the nation, and said studies have shown that ?if the portion put before you is bigger, you will eat more.?
?You can still be obese. We?re not keeping you from having large sugary drinks,? he said. ?We?re just telling you this is detrimental to your health.?
Shares of PepsiCo PEP -0.28% fell 0.5% to $67.87 in recent action. Shares of Coca-Cola Co. KO -0.07% were off slightly.
Source: Health Newstrack, India