NYC Soda Ban Blocked by State Supreme Court Judge

*Sugar fiends in New York City can breathe a sigh of relief today.

That’s because a ban limiting the size of sodas in movie theaters and restaurants has been blocked by a judge, according to reports.

If you hadn’t heard, the new regulations, which had Mayor Mic hael Bloomberg’s handprint all over them, were scheduled to go into effect this week, reports theWrap.

The rules would have prevented theaters, stadiums and eateries in the city’s five boroughs from selling sugary colas that are larger than 16 ounces. The mayor’s team said the ban was an important step in the fight to tackle the country’s obesity epidemic, while opponents countered that it was an example of needless government interference and a power grab on the part of the Bloomberg administration.

New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, which is backed by a non-alcoholic beverage lobbying group called the American Beverage Association, launched a public relations campaign aimed at the hearts and minds of city residents. The group also mounted a legal challenge.

And in case you’re wondering what the basis was for State Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling’s ruling … because in his opinion, the regulations were invalid and  “arbitrary and capricious.”