It has been more than a week since Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed banning the sale of soft drinks larger than 16 ounces, and New Yorkers are rising up against it and continuing to express their strong opposition. The most recent poll by Reuters/Ipsos found that 64 percent of Americans oppose Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal, and more than 70 percent of the nearly 1,000 American adults polled online said they did not think the proposed rule would affect obesity rates.

This is consistent with other polling that shows the Bloomberg proposal is a ban too far. Additional public opinion polling conducted in the wake of Bloomberg’s unpopular announcement demonstrates that the more people learn about Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal, the more they oppose it:

Reuters/Ipsos poll: 64% oppose IBOPE Inteligencia poll: 72% oppose NY1/Marist poll: 53% oppose Rasmussen Reports poll: 65% oppose

More broadly, it demonstrates that people don’t want government telling them what to eat or drink.  People are smart enough to make their own choices.  This should be a signal to other lawmakers – from New York to Seattle – that attempts by government to restrict choice just won’t fly with the American public.