In 2004, a movie called Super Size Me came out and showed the world the truth behind fast food restaurants that people today love so dearly. In 2013, Mayor Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, tried to branch off of that and show everyone that soda is one of the causes of obesity. Bloomberg tried to do the impossible—to ban the ability to sell drinks larger than 16 ounces.

This ban would include drinks sold in restaurants , including fast food chains, sports arenas, push carts, movie theatres, and coffee shops, such as Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks. This was the first restriction of its kind in America.

“People are really unaware of the horrible effects soda has on your body” said senior Cat Aracil. “Did you know you can clean your toilet with a can of coke?” If comparing a classic can of coke to a cleaning product isn’t bad enough, that’s only the beginning. Soda causes tooth decay, today known by many dentists as “Mountain Dew Mouth;” asthma, increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and most commonly—obesity. Soda causes one’s body to hold in ten pounds of fat annually.

Bloomberg may have also known the quick side effects soda has on a person’s body. Did you know that 10 teaspoons of sugar affects your system within the first 10 minutes of consumption? That is 100% of your recommended daily intake. Within 20 minutes, your blood sugar spikes, causing your liver to respond to the resulting insulin burst by turning massive amounts of sugar into fat. 40 minutes after drinking soda, all the caffeine absorbed, your pupils dilate, your blood pressure rises, and on top of that your liver dumps even more sugar into your bloodstream. Around 45 minutes, your body increases something called dopamine production, which stimulates the pleasure centers of your brain. And finally, an hour after consuming that great can of soda, you begin to “crash” from all the sugar.

All of this seems pretty reasonable now, right? Mayor Bloomberg wasn’t crazy when he tried to get this plan in motion. Wasn’t he was just looking out for the health of others? The judges on the New York City Board of Health apparently disagree or misunderstand his intentions, considering that they unanimously voted against this ban.

Judges found this ban “arbitrary and capricious” or in other words, irrational and inconsistent. They did not see this ban being productive or efficient, and ignored the mayor’s statement that 70,000 people, including 5,000 New Yorkers, die each year from obesity; thus affirming why this ban is so crucial.

But Mayor Bloomberg’s spirits have not faltered. He still advocates for the ban on soda. In response to the Board of Health’s decision, he said, “we believe that the judge’s decision was clearly in error, and that we will prevail!”