Ban trans fat… seems to be anti-democratic, but ok. Ban smoking in public… again, seems more like a dictatorship, but ok. Now, Mayor Mike Bloomberg is banning the sale of drinks above 16 ounces in New York City. That’s crossing the line.

Starting in March, New York City eateries and bodegas that sell drinks larger than that size will have their health department score lowered simply by doing so. This means theaters, restaurants and delis will have to drop these items from the menu or be branded a scarlet letter by the City of New York.

Everyone who knows me knows that I can rarely be seen without a large beverage in my hand. Some people joke that these big drinks are my signature. Others say they represent my security blanket. In all reality, I’m just thirsty.

I’ve been a supporter of Mayor Michael Bloomberg for many years, and I believe he has the fundamentals of a good leader. However, with ridiculous bans like this one on the size of beverage we consume, I have to question if he might just be a little power hungry. As he completes his unprecedented third term, something he has only been able to do after pushing a measure allowing him to do so, I have to wonder if Mayor Mike has just gone mad or is just pushing the envelope to see how much power he has.

Bloomberg says he decided to ban drinks larger than 16 ounces to help fight obesity. I’m calling shenanigans! After March 1st, New Yorkers will still be able to march into the movie theatre and get a pop corn the size of an average Manhattan apartment and huge boxes of candy, but we can’t get a large drink. We’ll still be able to roll into McDonald’s and Super Size it, but our drinks will still be less than 16 ounces. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to address the food before tackling the beverages?

If he wants to make me believe that he really cares about fat kids, then Bloomy needs to tackle some of the bigger problems facing our city. I can’t count the number of kids who have been shot in this city over the past year without using a calculator. Couldn’t the time spent fighting the demons that lie within big gulps have been spent more wisely? The answer is really not debatable.

I’m a grown man, and if I choose to drink a 32 ounce sweet tea then its my right. Not to say that I don’t support it, but New York is considering the legalization of marijuana. This means I’ll soon be able to legally purchase a dime bag, but not a large sweet tea from McDonalds. Something just doesn’t add up.

As Granny Winters used to say, what is this world coming to?!#