Here at MindBodyGreen, you don't need to convince us that sugar sucks. It's nutritionally empty, makes us stressed, and weakens our immune system. Worse, it causes inflammation, which is linked to all sorts of diseases ranging from Alzheimer's to cancer.
Which is why, as a Brooklyn-based, health-focused company, we've been following Mayor Bloomberg's ban on sugary drinks closely.
It was supposed to go into effect today, but a State Supreme Court judge overturned the ruling yesterday, saying it would be too confusing to implement and unfair to certain businesses. (Why would delis have to comply but convenience stores would be off the hook? Why would dairy-based drinks, like milkshakes, be exempt?)
In a press release issued today, the Mayor's office vowed to appeal this decision. "Obesity is killing more than 5,000 New Yorkers annually and 100,000 people nationwide – and we are determined to tackle its leading causes."
Bloomberg has already been successful in taking on food villains. In 2008, he successfully implemented a ban on transfats, and in 2007, he required restaurants to show calorie counts of foods.
“When our Administration implemented calorie counts and worked to eliminate trans-fats in restaurants, we were taken to court,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “But today, both reforms are recognized as models. Already our proposal to limit the size of sugary beverages has changed the national conversation around obesity and we are confident that yesterday’s court decision will be reversed on appeal."
Excess sugar consumption is linked to obesity, which is one of the leading causes of preventable premature death and is estimated to be responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 New York City residents per year through diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.