Cancelled: NY Portion control for sugary drinks may come into effect

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg initially succeeded in passing a ban on the sale of sugary drinks in portions larger than 16 ounce, at restaurants, movie theaters, street carts and all other food outlets that are regulated by the health department. New York City has a high obesity rate, with more than half of its adult population classified as obese or overweight.

The first US ban on large-size sodas was voted on by eight members of the city's health board on September 13, the remaining one member having chosen to abstain. The ban would not apply to drinks with fewer than 25 calories per 8-ounce serving such as unsweetened teas and vitamin waters. 

On Monday 11 March 2013, a day before the ban would take effect, Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling ruled against the ban.

The Bloomberg administration has previously made headlines with its measures aimed at improving public health such as imposing a smoking ban in the city's public spaces and the prohibition of artificial trans-fats in NYC's food establishments. 

This is Mayor Bloomberg's third attempt to curb the consumption of sugary drinks, after his initiative to impose a state tax on sodas and to restrict the use of food stamps to buy sodas were opposed by federal regulators.