“New York City is not about wringing your handsd. It’s about doing something. I think that’s what the public wants the mayor to do.â€
During his ten years in office, Mr Bloomberg has blocked the sale of sugary beverages from vending machines in schools, and banned artery-clogging trans-fats from restaurants and prepared foods.
In 2008, the city required restaurant chains to display the calorie-counts of their menu items.
He has also unsuccessfully lobbied for a state soda tax and tried to stop the purchase of soft drinks with food stamps.
The move will effectively be passed by mayoral fiat, bypassing the city council and requiring only the approval of the health board that recommended it, after a three-month consultation period.
Restaurants and other outlets would have six months from the date of adoption to comply or face fines.
Stefan Friedman, spokesman for the New York City Beverage Association, accused the mayor and the health board of a misplaced fixation with sweet drinks.
"There they go again. The New York City Health Department's unhealthy obsession with attacking soft drinks is again pushing them over the top," he said.
"The city is not going to address the obesity issue by attacking soda because soda is not driving the obesity rates."
He cited national data that calories from sugar-sweetened beverages are a small and declining part of the American diet.
According to the mayor’s aides, sugary drinks are however a major cause of obesity.
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