New Yorkers Are Not Alone: Cambridge Mayor Also Considering Large Soda Ban

New Yorkers aren't the only ones facing a possible ban on large soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages. The Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Henrietta Davis, proposed on Monday limiting the size of sodas and other sweet drinks sold in the city's restaurants.

Davis introduced the policy order that day, citing an increased risk of obesity and diabetes from high intakes of sugar. She asked that the Cambridge Public Health Department make the recommendation.

The target of this effort is super-sized and over-sized sugary drinks, especially when children are the primary consumers, Davis said in a statement. Malnutrition in this country is not only a problem of not getting enough to eat, but also consuming way too many empty, sugary calories.

Davis said work has already been done with the Public Health Department to enact smoking- and trans fats- related policies.

The hope is that this policy order gets the ball rolling on limiting the amount of soda consumed by children and adults in our community, Davis said.

New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a soda ban last month. Should the soda ban find favor in New York City, it would mean that licensed food establishments cannot serve the banned items in containers bigger than 16 ounces. Any failure to downsize runs the risk of being fined $200.

Bloomberg's proposal has gotten some opposition from the New York City Restaurant Association, as well as beverage companies such as Coca-Cola.

New York City Board of Health officials are also considering cutting the size of movie-theater popcorns and beverages containing milk.