Question

Conduct research on New York City's large soda ban. Pretend you work at the Paradise City attorney's office. Draft a law that restricts the sale of large sugary drinks in Paradise City. Make sure to define the types of drinks and types of sellers restricted by the law.

Example Statute: Title XXXIV (Links to an external site.) ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO Chapter 564 (Links to an external site.) WINE 564.03 Wines; sacramental and religious purposes.— (1) For the purpose of this section the term “wine” is hereby defined to mean wine, vinous spirits, or vinous liquors. (2) Any religious order, monastery, church or religious body, or any minister, pastor, priest, or rabbi thereof, may purchase wine for religious or sacramental purposes from any duly licensed wholesaler or retailer within the state, by obtaining a permit from the division for such purchases herein provided. (3) The division shall issue said permit upon sworn application, stating the name of the applicant, the religious purpose for which the wine is to be used, the amount to be purchased, and from whom the purchase is to be made. (4) The division for good cause may refuse to issue said permit. (5) Said wine and the sale thereof, when sold as herein provided and used for religious or sacramental purposes, shall be exempt from all other restrictions, regulations, and taxation now provided by the laws of the state for the sale and distribution of wine. History.—ss. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ch. 20978, 1941; s. 7, ch. 29964, 1955; ss. 16, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 4, ch. 72-230; s. 29, ch. 79-11. Note.—Former s. 562.49.

Answer 1

A Research on New York City's large soda ban

Considering the health of citizens, as it is proved that sugary drinks, if taken in large quantities, can severly affect the health of consumers especially those with illnesses like diabetes and obesity, and as per New York City Health Code article 81, a ban on the sale of soda, including all sugary beverages, above the size of 475ml, is announced. Under this regulation, all the restaurants, fast food joints, cinema halls and other such types of recreational/entertainment establishments, are no more allowed to sell sugar-sweetened drinks above the size of 475ml. But, since, grocery stores are regulated by the state, these are not covered under this ban. The drinks having more than 70 percent of fruit juice are also exempted from this ban.

REASON BEHIND THIS REGULATION

HEALTH ISSUES ON ACCOUNT OF SALES OF SODA DRINKS:

Various studies were conducted on the growing impact of obesity related health issues (obesity crisis) among the New Yorkers as they struggled to improve their eating habits but were most of the time tempted to buy and consume the soda and failed to improve upon their health. More than half of the population of school students are overweight and obese due to heavy consumption of such products on daily basis. This obesity causes so many problems in the public which includes rising medical problems and medical related rising expenditure. Non diet sodas contain large amount of calories. It is important to note that one regular coal has ten teaspoons of sugar in it. One small drink of soda consumed will cross the daily recommended limit of sugar intake thereby causing health issues at an early stage like diabetes, depression, heart disease, asthma and other diseases.  

Having such ban introduced by the government, will certainly have positive impact on the health of the individuals and eventually improve their efficiencies and reduce the medical expenditures which is a wastage. In the past also, government introduced certain taxes on tobacco and other fast food items to suppress their sales and the results were encouraging.

THE TYPES OF DRINKS FALLING UNDER BAN

The ban on large sugary drinks is known as soda ban and it includes fruit flavoured drinks, energy drinks, sweetened coffee, hot chocolates which may or may not be carbonated beverages which are non-alcoholic and sweetened using sugar or any other sweetener. Such drinks have more than 25 catories per 8 fluid ounces and does not have milk more than 50 percent.

THE TYPES OF SELLERS WHO ARE RESTRICTED FROM SELLING

The city restaurants, food carts, food courts in malls, cinema/movie halls, sports stadia and any other such New York City regulated food establishments are covered under this Soda Ban. Under this ban, they are not allowed to sell in pack sized more than sixteen ounces or 475 ml. However, there are certain areas where such ban is not applicable as they do not come under the inspection of Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. These places incude grocery stores, convenience stores, super markets and gas stations.

LAW DRAFT

It is hereby informed that sugary drinks, which have pack size more than 475ml, come under the scope of Soda Ban, which states that all New York City regulated restaurants, movie theatres, fast food eateries/establishments/joints, sports stadia, are barred from selling sugar sweetened drinks known as Soda in pack sizes more than 475 ml. However, this regulation does not apply to grocery stores which come under the perview of the state. Also, this law is not applicable to those drinks which have nore than seventy percent of fruit juice content and drinks more than fifty percent of milk and milk products.