Poll Watch: Quinnipiac New York City Survey on Michael Bloomberg and Banning Sugary Drinks

Quinnipiac New York City Poll on Michael Bloomberg and Banning Sugary Drinks

As you may know, Mayor Bloomberg has a plan to ban large servings of soda and sugary drinks in an effort to help fight obesity in New York City. Bloomberg's proposal would prohibit the sale of soda and other sweetened drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces that are sold in places regulated by the city's health department like restaurants, movies theaters, and food carts. Do you support or oppose Bloomberg's plan?

• Support 46%
• Oppose 51%

Democrats

• Support 51%
• Oppose 46%

Republicans

• Support 31%
• Oppose 69%

Independents

• Support 43%
• Oppose 52%

Men

• Support 41%
• Oppose 55%

Women

• Support 50%
• Oppose 47%

Do you think the government should be getting involved in people's eating and drinking habits to fight obesity, or do you think the government shouldn't be getting involved in these things?

• Government should be involved 46%
• Government should not be involved 50%

Democrats

• Government should be involved 51%
  
• Government should not be involved 44%

Republicans

• Government should be involved 30%
  
• Government should not be involved 69%

Independents

• Government should be involved 44%
  
• Government should not be involved 55%

Men

• Government should be involved 44%
  
• Government should not be involved 52%

Women

• Government should be involved 48%
  
• Government should not be involved 48%

Would you describe Mayor Bloomberg's plan as an example of "Nanny Government" or wouldn't you describe it this way?

• Yes 43%
• No 43%

Democrats

• Yes 40%
  
• No 47%

Republicans

• Yes 59%
  
• No 35%

Independents

• Yes 44%
  
• No 40%

Men

• Yes 44%
  
• No 43%

Women

• Yes 42%
  
• No 43%

Survey of 1,093 New York City voters was conducted June 6-11, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Poll Watch: Rasmussen (R) National Survey on Banning Sugary Drinks

Rasmussen (R) National Survey on Banning Sugary Drinks

Do you favor or oppose a law that would ban the sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 ounces?

• Favor 24%
• Oppose 65%

Should the government ban the sale of all sugary drinks?

• Yes 11%
• No 85%

Does the government have the constitutional authority to prevent people from buying sugary drinks?

• Yes 9%
• No 85%

National survey of 1,000 adults was conducted May 31 - June 1, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3 percentage points.

Inside the numbers:

Eighty percent (80%) of Republicans and 71% of those who are not affiliated with either of the major political parties oppose a ban on super-size drinks. Democrats are fairly evenly divided.

Women are more supportive than men of the ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces, but the two overwhelmingly agree that the government does not have the constitutional authority to prevent people from buying the drinks.

Despite concerns Americans have about childhood obesity, adults with children living with them oppose a ban on super-size drinks even more than those who don’t have children in the home.

Americans under 40 look more favorably on a ban on all sugary drinks than older adults do. Government employees like that idea more than those who work for a private company.

But a sizable number of Americans across all demographic categories oppose such a ban and think the government lacks the authority to impose it.

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