One month removed from proposing a ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg appeared in promotion of the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Bloomberg delivered pun-heavy remarks at the weigh-in for the contest, stopping midway to question his speechwriters, asking “who writes this sh**?”

The mayor was named Citizens Against Government Waste’s June 2012 Porker of the Month for proposing a ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces at restaurants, food carts, movie theaters, and any other venues that receive letter grades from the city for food service.  If the measure is approved by the city’s health department after a three-month comment period, the ban will be enforced by the city’s regular restaurant inspection team, which will levy $200 fines for noncompliance.

Mayor Bloomberg, who already imposed bans on trans fat and smoking in parks, has made several forays on his misguided crusade to curtail the consumption of sugary drinks in The Big Apple, all of which have failed.

Incidentally, five-time champ Joey Chestnut won the event by scarfing down 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes.  After the mayor’s foray into food regulation, one has to wonder which is the poorer idea: consuming a soft drink over 10 minutes or downing 68 hot dogs over the same amount of time.

Filed under: In The News, State Issues