Bloomberg proposal reaches debate around the world.

Michael Bloomberg, New York Mayor, proposed a ban on the sale of large sodas in restaurants, delis, and theaters to fight obesity. Under the plan, drinks would be limited to 16 fluid ounces.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - People around the world say that drinking more than 16 fluid ounces of any drink is "excessive," saying they would never drink that much liquid.

"I know what American culture is like - big portions, not necessarily health-conscious," Gordon Howard, who works in finance, said at a London wine tasting. "They supersize everything."

30-year-old Mourad Rahmani, cafe owner, said he couldn't imagine such a debate in France.

"The biggest size drink we have here is 0.5 liter," Rahmani said, raising an empty pint glass he'd been washing. While he would never think of ordering such a 44 ounce drink himself, Rahmani said he's against the ban. "It's a question of freedom. What's next? Ban hamburgers?"

"A person should have the right to decide what they want to eat and how much," said social worker Frederick Agaba, who comes from Kampala, Uganda. "This should not be the job of a mayor. In any case, this law would not make a big difference, as elsewhere someone could still take whatever amount of Coke he wants."

At Jolibee, a Filipino fast-food chain that is, believe it or not, more popular than McDonald's, manager Joy Jimenez agreed with the ban.

"Kids these days, when they see that soft drinks are available, they will just drink and drink," she said. "It is part of government's responsibility to ensure the health of its citizens."

In Israel, Yair Foldes said that the proposed plan may help slow down the rate of obesisty.

"Here I don't think we have that problem but there it might help raise awareness," he said while waiting for a train.

"It's so weird for us, the idea that a person would drink more than a liter of soda - that's huge! Of course there should be a law to stop that," said Arthur Trigo, a 19-year-old student standing outside a juice stand in Sao Paolo. "Americans are such exaggerated consumers, they really need to consume less."

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