New Yorkers For Beverage Choice Rally Against Proposed Beverage Restriction In New York, N.Y.

More than 300 members of New Yorkers for Beverage Choices converged on City Hall in lower Manhattan to protest Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed beverage ban limiting the sale of sugar-sweetened drinks larger than 16 ounces in foodservice establishments in the New York City area, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. For the full story, click here. 

Editor’s Insight: The vending industry is not affected by this proposal, but the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) has formally opposed the proposal on that grounds that it distracts from finding real solutions to the obesity challenge. NAMA, in its statement, noted that sugar sweetened beverages account for 7 percent of calories people consume, and that this percent is trending downward.

NAMA, in its statement, does not discount the seriousness of the obesity issue and has taken measures to address it with its Fit Pick healthy vending initiative.

The food industry must continue to seek ways to address the obesity issue. 07-25-12 By Elliot Maras