Boston mayor bans soda from city property

In an attempt to reduce the city's rising obesity rates, Menino has banned all sugary drinks from city vending machines, cafeterias and concession stands, just one day after reaching an agreement with the Boston Red Sox that allows the team to sell mixed drinks at its ballpark.

"I want to create a civic environment that makes the healthier choice the easier choice in people's lives, whether it's schools, work sites, or other places in the community," said Menino in the press release issued last week about the soda ban.

According to the release, city buildings and departments have a six-month grace period before they'll be required to phase out the sale of beverages loaded with sugar, such as non-diet sodas, pre-sweetened ice teas, refrigerated coffee drinks, energy drinks, juice drinks with added sugar and sports drinks. The order allows for the sale of beverages such as diet sodas, diet iced teas, 100 percent juices, low-calorie sports drinks, low-sugar sweetened beverages, sweetened soy milk and flavored, sweetened milk. Beverages such as bottled water, flavored and unflavored seltzer water, low-fat milk, and unsweetened soy milk can continue to be sold.

Meanwhile, Menino has signed off on a proposal that will allow Fenway Park to sell mixed drinks during baseball games, according to The Boston Globe.

Allowing the selling mixed drinks - or even just beer - at a ballgame gives the lie to Menino's efforts to get Bostonians to slim down. A 12 oz Budweiser has 145 calories while 12 oz of Coke has 142. A Rum and Coke has a whopping 314 calories while a Scotch and Soda has 135.

But try and take a beer away from a Red Sox fan and you would probably lose the next election.

Grandstanding politicians narrowing choices for people based on the idea that they know what's best for the rest of us. Kind of gives the saying "Banned in Boston" a whole new meaning.