NY poll: No to soda ban, yes to booze limit

A majority of New Yorkers might want Mayor Michael Bloomberg to keep his hands off their soda, but when it comes to booze, they're OK with him making an early last call.

About 56 percent of New Yorkers said they think it would be a good idea for Bloomberg to crack down on alcohol abuse, while about 54 percent said they opposed his plan to ban sugary drinks greater than 16 ounces, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released last week.

Although the mayor has not announced a definite plan to restrict booze, he's rumored to be eyeing some sort of action.

In January, the city was considering a plan that would limit alcohol-related advertising and the number of bars and restaurants that could sell alcohol, but Bloomberg said the proposal was dropped.

The mayor has made the pursuit of public health initiatives, many of which have polarized the city, a staple of his time in office.

Maurice Carroll, the director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, said he included the generic question to pick New Yorker's brains.

"Bloomberg is a guy that feels the normal mayor stuff, like taking out the garbage, is not the end of his duties," Carroll said.

The mayor's office declined to discuss the poll's findings.

"The administration uses science and research to inform policy decisions, not what's politically popular or unpopular," a Bloomberg spokeswoman said in a statement.

New Yorkers of all ages, particularly those with children under the age of 18, approved of a hypothetical plan to curb alcohol in the city. Registered Democrats were slightly more willing to accept a booze crackdown than their Republican counterparts, with 26 percent of Republicans calling it a "bad idea." One-quarter of all participants didn't have an opinion, according to the poll.