Wait a minute… Syria is burning, political campaigns are out-attacking each other, Europe is struggling under Spain and Greece’s debt-ridden governments — and Bloomberg is focusing on fighting obesity by prohibiting the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants and other locations across the five boroughs – under the banner of fighting obesity.

Bloomberg is proposing to ban the sale of sodas and other sugary drinks that are more than 16 fluid ounces in restaurants, movie theaters and other establishments. This proposal is to be submitted to the NYC Board of Health on June 12.  Bloomberg said his plan is part of an effort “to encourage people to live longer. This is something we think we have the legal authority to do.”

Really?

For one thing cutting down from a 32-ounce soda to a 16-ounce one is not going to bring down any pounds very quickly, whereas cutting, let’s say, 5000 calories a day down to 2,000, just might.  For another, New Yorkers can still get their 32 ounces of soda, if they wish, by cleverly ordering two 16-ounce ones, which is allowed under this proposal.  And here is another thing… Refills are allowed.  As such, it’s quite easy to turn a 16-ounce soda into many, many 32-ounce ones  – if you do the math.

What about banning ice cream? Fat burgers? Fries? Chilidogs?  By the way, a milk shake or a sweetened latte that is larger than 16 ounces would be allowed.

Madness… Look, nobody will ever say that sodas are good for you, but nor will they say that by reducing the size of a soda intake, there will be a significant downturn in the health hazards caused by obesity.

Here’s a message for Bloomberg: Get rid of your “nanny” image (so nicknamed by his own New Yorkers) and get over this nonsense that soda size matters in the long run.  There is no scientific evidence of this being a major driver in causing obesity. Let educators, counselors, psychiatrists, as well as weight clinics, take the lead in food choices in fighting obesity problems and take on the job of “regulating” school lunches as to healthy choices or mandating more PE and doing away with school soda machines.

If Mayor Bloomberg wants to duplicate the successes he had in banning smoking back in 2002 with banning something to do with obesity, pick on something other than soda or sugary drink size.

It is not only nonsensical, but will be ineffective in making a dent in the obesity epidemic.