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New York City’s mayor wants large sugary drinks banned

New Yorkers are getting ready to say goodbye to their extra-large Coke.

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is about to propose a bold municipal ban to the city's Board of Health: ditch large-size sugary beverages.

If passed, restaurants, mobile food carts, ballpark concession stands, movie theatres and delis would all have to limit their sugary-drink sizes to 16 ounces or less.

Watch the ABC news video below about the proposed soda ban:

"New York City is not about wringing your hands; it's about doing something," Bloomberg says of his hands-on approach to tackling America's obesity epidemic. "I think that's what the public wants the mayor to do."

Diet versions, fruit juices, milk-based drinks and alcoholic beverages would not be affected by the ban.

Also see: Unflattering photos serve as diet motivation for women

Will it pass? More importantly, will the ban actually encourage people to make healthier choices and cut their beverage calories?

"It's time for serious health professionals to move on and seek solutions that are going to actually curb obesity," says New York City Beverage Association spokesman Stefan Friedman. "These zealous proposals just distract from the hard work that needs to be done on this front."

Last summer, Ontario public schools launched a ban of their own, taking junk food — including pop — out of their cafeterias and vending machines. Since the beginning of 2012, Calgary schools have followed suit, cutting out all available bad-for-you snacks, as an attempt to model good behaviour and choices. And in B.C. high schools, non-diet sodas are not allowed.

While a survey found most Canadians support junk-food-ban initiatives, these small steps have yet to prove themselves effective in lowering childhood obesity.

One study found no links between childhood obesity and junk-food availability at U.S. schools. Another study found soft-drink bans at U.S. schools altogether ineffective, with kids still getting their fill of sugary drinks elsewhere.

For Canadians, by the end of 2013, all beverage bottles, vending and fountain-drink dispensers will display clear calorie counts, not just on the back of a label. This labelling change is due to the Clear on Calories initiative supported by Canada Dry Mott's, Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada, Cott Beverages Canada, Nestle Waters Canada and PepsiCo Beverages Canada.

Also see: Nutritious Nutella? All you need to know about the pitfalls of food labels

Another goal of the program is to provide portion-controlled and lower-calorie drinks. Already, the Clear on Calories initiative claims it has "reduced the amount of full calorie beverages in the marketplace by 25 per cent."

With all this talk of sugary-drink banning, it's somewhat surprising to learn that soft-drink consumption is actually down 30 per cent in the last decade, with the average Canadian drinking 68 soft drinks last year, down from 100 drinks ten years ago.

Still, obesity is on the rise.

"Obesity is caused by an over-consumption of calories from all sources. There is no one particular product that can be blamed," Stephanie Baxter, the Canadian Beverage Association's director of communications and former spokeswoman for Coca-Cola, says in an interview with the Toronto Star.

Should New York City ban large sugary drinks? Or should the public just be more educated about the choices their making?