End of the 'supersize' soda as New York mayor announces large fizzy drinks ban Under the new proposals McDonald's would no longer to sell fizzy drinks in anything larger than what is currently their 'small' size. A medium drink at McDonald's is 21 fl oz while a large is 32 fl oz - twice the size of the new legal limit. Appearing on MSNBC to defend his plan, Mr Bloomberg said: "There is an epidemic in this country of people being overweight, bordering on obesity. In New York City alone the number of deaths from smoking is going up while the number of deaths from obesity has gone up, so much so these two are about to cross and we are going to have more deaths from obesity than smoking. Everyone is saying we have got to do something about that, well here is a concrete thing. Asked whether this is example of a nanny state, he said: "If you want a 32 ounce drink you can still order two 16 ounce drinks. If you want to order two cups at the same time, that is yous choice. We are not taking away anyone's choice. Mr Bloomberg's proposal could take effect as soon as next March. His proposal requires the backing of the New York City Board of Health. That, however, is considered a formality given that Mr Bloomberg appointed every member of the board and the board's chairman, the city health commissioner Dr Thomas Farley, has already publicly endorsed the plan. Introducing the proposal, Mr Bloomberg pinpointed rising obesity levels as his inspiration. He said: "Obesity is a nationwide problem, and all over the United States public health officials are wringing their hands saying 'oh this is terrible'. New York City is not about wringing your hands; it's about doing something. Public health has been one of Mr Bloomberg's top priorities during his 10-year tenure. He introduced a smoking ban in bars and restaurants and introduced the requirement for all restaurants to display their health inspection results in the windows. He also banned the use of unsaturated fats in restaurants. And previously the mayor tried to introduce a state tax on fizzy drinks and tried to ban the use of food stamps to purchase soft drinks. Both attempts were unsuccessful But because of his war on public health, he has been criticised by some for infringing on personal freedoms. Yesterday he was again in the line of fire. The New York City Beverage Association took aim, saying: "The New York City health department's unhealthy obsession with attacking soft drinks is again pushing them over the top. It's time for serious health professionals to move on and seek solutions that are going to actually curb obesity. These zealous proposals just distract from the hard work that needs done on this front. A spokesman for McDonald's added: "Public health issues cannot be effectively addressed through a narrowly-focused and misguided ban. This is a complex topic, and one that requires a more collaborative and comprehensive approach. McDonald's takes the well-being of our customers very seriously...We also provide our customers nutritional information through multiple means, including menu board labelling in New York City. We trust our customers to make the choices that are best for them In New York City figures show that more than half of adults are obese or overweight. Dr Farley, the health commissioner has said sweetened drinks are partly to blame for this increase in the past 30 years. The health department says that about a third of New Yorkers drink one or more sugary drinks a day. But even in unveiling the proposal to ban large fizzy drinks, the mayor accepted there were loopholes in his proposal. His scheme does not ban the free refills which are available in many US fast food restaurants, meaning people could simply drink the same amounts from smaller cups. And he accepts that his plan could hit consumers in the pocket with outlets charging more for smaller sodas in an era of 'prohibition'. There is also nothing stopping thirsty customers just buying two 16fl oz drinks to get round the ban. Responding to the criticisms, Mr Bloomberg said: "Your argument, I guess, could be that it's a little less convenient to have to carry two 16 ounce drinks to your seat in the movie theatre rather than one 32 ounce." Mr Bloomberg said that he did not believe the proposal infringed on anyone's rights, adding: "I don't think you can make the case that we are taking things away."