The Foundation for Economic Education released a statement last June concerning New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed outlawing of the sale of 16 ounce or larger sugared sodas in certain venues in the Big (unsugared) Apple.

The mayor claimed at the time, “We’re not taking away anybody’s right to do things.”

Furthermore, “We’re simply forcing you to understand that you have to make the conscious decision to go from one cup to another cup.”

The FEE’s response:

“ ‘Forcing’ is the right word. The mayor’s policy would forbid eateries (but not stores)—under penalty of law—from serving regular (non-diet) sodas in cups larger than 16 ounces as a way to combat obesity. That does take away our rights.

“Leaving aside whether this would really address obesity, the mayor forgets something we all should have learned as children: The end doesn’t justify the means.

“The exchange of money for a supersized soda is a peaceful voluntary transaction, and hence no business of the government’s. It doesn’t matter that the mayor [has] good intentions.

“They cannot justify the means: the use of physical force to prevent individuals from engaging in free exchange. The essence of a free society is that people may do, in the words of FEE’s founder Leonard E. Read, ‘anything that’s peaceful.’

“The mayor’s policy violates that standard miserably.” — Foundation for Economic Education, “FEE’s Take on Mayor Bloomberg’s Supersized Soda Policy”, The Freeman Online, June 13, 2012

The New York Board of Health officially approved the Bloomberg ban on September 13th:

At a news conference on Thursday, Mr. Bloomberg announced that the Barclays Center, the new basketball arena in Brooklyn that is to open next week, would immediately begin complying with the new rules and offer sugary drinks only in containers of 16 ounces or less.

Asked about the soda industry’s well-financed campaign against his plan, Mr. Bloomberg responded with an amused look.

“I just spent roughly $600 million of my own money to try to stop the scourge of tobacco,” the mayor said, as a round of laughter began to rise in the room. “I’m looking for another cause. How much were they spending again?” — Michael M. Grynbaum, “Health Panel Approves Restriction on Sale of Large Sugary Drinks”, New York Times.com, September 14, 2012

Many say the ban is a bold, salutary move. Others say this is how liberty is lost: in increments, one small bit at a time — and for the noblest reasons.