A sugary drink ban in NYC? Alina Cho reports on Mayor Bloomberg's controversial plan

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is ready to enact a city-wide plan that would be a big first in the fight against obesity. But, it comes with a lot of controversy.

Bloomberg wants to ban the sale of sugary drinks over 16 ounces at all city restaurants, movie theaters, and even the ballpark. Bloomberg has been out front on this issue of health and fighting obesity in New York City, including championing the ban on smoking in restaurants and a city-wide ban on trans fats.

Here's why: The city's Health Department released a public service announcement where you see a man drinking a tall glass of fat, with copy saying 'Drinking one can of soda a day can make you 10 pounds fatter a year. Don't drink yourself fat.'

The ban would "not" affect diet sods, fruit juices, dairy-based drinks or alcoholic drinks. And it would not extend to grocery or convenience stores.

The mayor is taking this action because obesity is such a big problem in this country. More than a third of all Americans are considered obese. You may think with all the walking people do in New York City that the rate would be lower. Not so. More than half of New York adults are considered obese or overweight and the health commissioner blames sweetened drinks for "half" the increase in obesity rates over the past 30 years.

The city has also done research into the obesity rate, and found that higher obesity rates are more common in neighborhoods where soda consumption is high.

The New York Board of Health has to approve the measure, and if all goes as planned the ban could take affect as early as next March.

SOUND OFF: Do you think Mayor Bloomberg's plan is a smart way to attack the obesity problem in the country, or will people find ways around it?