New Yorkers for Beverage Choices Surpasses 100,000 Supporters

New Yorkers for Beverage Choices today announced that more than 100,000 New Yorkers have joined the coalition in opposition to the Bloomberg Administration’s proposed size restrictions on sugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda, juice drinks, teas, sports drinks and flavored waters.  The coalition also named Liz Berman, president of Continental Food and Beverage, Inc., chairwoman of New Yorkers for Beverage Choices as the coalition continues its efforts to ensure that New Yorkers’ voices are heard.

“Though the deck has been stacked against us, New Yorkers will continue to voice their opposition to this arbitrary and ineffective ban,” Berman said. “As chair of the coalition, I am proud to stand with the more than 100,000 New Yorkers and businesses that are committed to making it clear that we can decide what’s best for ourselves and our families.”

The New York City Board of Health is appointed by the Mayor, and therefore the votes necessary to likely pass the ban are in place.  Even so, New Yorkers for Beverage Choices is continuing to engage individuals and businesses throughout the city to voice their opposition to the proposed ban.  While the proposal is likely to pass when it comes before the Board of Health for a vote in September, it won’t pass with the support of New Yorkers.  More than 1,562 businesses and 105,414 individual supporters have joined the coalition in just over seven weeks.

The public hearing on the ban was held at one o’clock in the afternoon on a Tuesday, a time when hard-working New Yorkers and small business owners are unable to attend and make their opinions heard. The Board of Health has not fulfilled its duty of listening to the interests of New York City residents. New Yorkers for Beverage Choices is continuing its efforts against the impending ban in order to give New Yorkers a platform for their well-deserved voice of opposition.

“As a small business owner, I understand the negative impact this ban will have on our local economy,” added Berman. “Small businesses are the backbone of our city’s economy and we must support, rather than limit, them as we continue to grow our economy and remain a city where individualism and freedom of expression are highly valued.”

New Yorkers for Beverage Choices has been fighting for small business owners and New York residents that oppose the ban since the proposal was introduced, and will not abandon these efforts. By joining New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, New York City business owners and residents still have the opportunity to speak out against the proposed beverage ban and make their voices heard.

For more information or to join the coalition, visit www.nycbeveragechoices.com.