Now Los Angeles Is Considering a Soda Ban

Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to ban the sale of large sodas has sparked interest in Cambridge, Mass., and now Los Angeles, too. 

The LA Times reports that Councilman Mitchell Englander is proposing an end to soda vending machines in Los Angeles parks and libraries. This would add on to LA's existing ban on soda vending machines in schools. Englander, who is the president of the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association, brought up the proposal to fight back against the city's growing obesity rate. The LA Weekly quotes him, "The elimination of sodas in RAP vending machines will not put an end to childhood obesity, but it is a small step in educating the public about healthier food and beverage choices." 

Of course, the soda industry isn't thrilled with this idea. Said David Thorpe, a representative of the American Beverage Association to the Huffington Post, "A ban on soda [in] city parks and libraries will do nothing to improve obesity, and it does nothing to educate consumers about nutrition." 

LA isn't the only California city to consider a NYC-style soda ban: Richmond, Calif., wants to require businesses selling sugary drinks to have a license, much like a liquor license. Of course, that would mean a fee for the business — most likely passed on to the consumer.

Will these proposals be put in action? Doctors sure hope so: diabetes specialists think that a soda ban should be just the start of getting the U.S. population back on the healthy track, reports Reuters. 

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