New York, NY (WIBX) - The New York City Board of Health is banning sodas and sugary drinks that are larger than sixteen ounces.

 

The ban is scheduled to take place March 12, 2013.  The vote passed eight to zero with one member of the board abstaining.

For the purposes of the legislation a sugary drink is being defined as a "beverage sweetened with sugar or another caloric sweetener that contains more than 25 calories per 8 fluid ounces and contains less than 51% milk or milk substitute by volume as an ingredient."

Notably excluded from the ban are other sugary drinks such as milkshakes and smoothies. Diet sodas, since they do not contain caloric sweeteners, are also exempted from the ban.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been lobbying for the ban since May.

 

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