Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

New York City Mayor Michael “I have a responsibility not to force anybody to do anything” Bloomberg is forcing people to do something again. City officials will start enforcing the “large sugary drink” ban on March 12 (violators will be fined $200 and sent to health nanny sensitivity training). Affected city businesses are receiving information on compliance. Among the rules: No two-liter sodas with pizza deliveries:

The city Health Department last week began sending brochures to businesses that would be affected by the latest ban, including restaurants, bars and any “food service” establishment subject to letter grades.

And merchants were shocked to see the broad sweep of the new rules.

“It’s not fair. If you’re gonna tell me what to do, it’s no good,” said Steve DiMaggio of Caruso’s in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. “It’s gonna cost a lot more.”

And consumers, especially families, will soon see how the rules will affect their wallets — forcing them to pay higher unit prices for smaller bottles.

Typically, a pizzeria charges $3 for a 2-liter bottle of Coke. But under the ban, customers would have to buy six 12-ounce cans at a total cost of $7.50 to get an equivalent amount of soda.

Bloomberg is still going to allow pizzas to be delivered? Unbelievable. It seems like the obesity from the pizza combined with the global warming from the delivery vehicle would be enough to convince The Nanny to put a stop to it. Maybe that’s next.

Here’s more, to be filed under “how come Mayor Bloomberg hates the environment?”

“We’re getting in 16-ounce bottles — and that’s all we’re going to sell,” a worker said.

He said the smaller bottles will generate more revenue for the restaurant but cost consumers more.

It will also trash more plastic into the environment.

The New York Post’s picture accompanying the story is worth a look.

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe