Lack of community support impacted most on the failure to
address sugary beverage consumption through a state tax, exclusion
from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/food
stamp) benefits that was rejected by the federal government, and
the portion cap rule. Predictably, lobbying efforts by the beverage
industry were perceived as a major stumbling block in swaying
public opinion and gaining legislative support. While usual industry
arguments on personal choice and responsibility were widely
expected, industry efforts to capitalize on the diversity of NYC
constituencies caught policy-makers by surprise.
‘‘The group that surprised and disappointed us the most were
the minority groups. On the food stamp proposal in particular,
the hunger advocates came out very vocally against that. We
were presented as somehow we were being mean to poor