NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg€™s idea to ban the sale of sugary drinks in containers bigger than 16 ounces got a boost this week when the city€™s Board of Health threw its support behind the measure, the Associated Press reports.

Only licensed foodservice establishments would have to adhere to the ban, which effectively ends the sale of the popular 20-ounce beverage serving size. However, patrons could get refills or order more than one of the smaller sizes.

To become law, the measure needs only one government body to approve it, and the board unanimously voted to start the public comment period, which runs for six weeks. A formal vote won€™t happen until September 13, but board members have come out passionately for the ban. Some members wanted to know if the city would also be limiting portion sizes.

Board member Bruce Vladeck wants to limit popcorn sizes at movie theaters, while another wants to put milk beverages under the ban. "The popcorn isn't a whole lot better than the soda," Vladeck said.

"There are certainly milkshakes and milk-coffee beverages that have monstrous amounts of calories," added Dr. Joel Forman.

"Some of the board members seemed to think that the proposal didn't go far enough, and I found that very alarming," said Andrew Moesel, a spokesman for the New York City Restaurant Association, after the meeting. The association is contemplating legal action to halt the ban.

The first public hearing on the measure will be held July 24. A new poll by Quinnipiac University found that New York City voters are against the measure 51% versus 46%.

So far, convenience stores are exempt from this ban. In the past two years, NACS has sought industry feedback on how retailers are providing consumers with merchandise and foodservice choices for healthy foods and beverages. We€™ve tackled the issue in NACS Magazine and spoken with members of Congress about the role convenience stores play in every community across the United States:

• We are a convenient part of everyday lives and consumers€™ needs.
• We offer consumers convenient choices.
• We are community focused, sponsoring calories in/calories out programs such as youth sports.

Our industry€™s 148,000-plus stores conduct 160 million transactions a day. Convenience stores are a destination for healthy choices and have a great story to tell. Help NACS tell our industry€™s story so that we can help best communicate our industry€™s message to legislators. Contact Jeff Lenard to share ideas and solutions that your company is implementing to bring healthy choices to your customers.