State lawmakers in North Carolina want to make sure their big drinks stay super-sized. House Bill 683 was filed Tuesday to prohibit cities and counties from putting limits on how large a drink can be. The bill is in direct opposition to the limits NYC Mayor Bloomberg attempted to put in place.
House Bill 683 would protect the manufacturers of soda and other beverages from lawsuits stemming from weight gain, obesity and other conditions related to long-term consumption. The sponsors of the bill are Rep. Brian Brown, a Republican from Greenville; Rep. Tim Moffitt, a Republican from Asheville; and Rep. Nathan Ramsey, a Republican from Fairview.
Bloomberg’s ban on “Big Gulps,” was hailed by many public health officials as an important step in the effort to combat the effects of high-calorie, sugary drinks on the public’s health.
Bloomberg’s recent proposal to block the sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 oz. at New York City food venues, was nixed by the State Supreme Court of Manhattan. Justice Milton A. Tingling of State Supreme Court in Manhattan called the limits “arbitrary and capricious,†echoing the complaints of city business owners and consumers who found the rules unworkable and unenforceable.