New York has become the first city in the United States to impose a partial ban on super-sized soft drinks.

The new rules cover drinks sold in fast-food outlets, sports venues and cinemas, but not supermarkets or convenience stores.

The Board of Health's formal approval of the ban - proposed by mayor Michael Bloomberg and hailed by health campaigners, but hotly opposed by soft drinks manufacturers - was not considered a surprise.

According to official statistics, some 6,000 people in New York die each year from obesity-linked problems.

One in eight adult New Yorkers has diabetes, which can be aggravated by sugar consumption.

Although the measure is very far from being a ban on the over-indulgence of sugary drinks, the disappearance of mega-sized cups in many establishments will at least make people more aware of what they are consuming, Mr Bloomberg says.

"New Yorkers will soon consume fewer junk calories and eventually begin turning the tide of the obesity epidemic that is destroying the health of far too many of our citizens," he said.

City health commissioner Thomas Farley called the vote "historic".

However, Liz Berman, president of Continental Food and Beverage and head of the New Yorkers for Beverage Choices lobby group, described the "discriminatory ban" as a "fix".

"It's sad that the board wants to limit our choices. We are smart enough to make our own decisions about what to eat and drink," she said in a statement.

The prohibition restricts soda drink servings to a maximum of 16 ounces (453 millilitres) in fast-food and other restaurants and places of public entertainment like stadiums.

That is more than a normal can, but only half the size of the biggest, bucket-like container that patrons commonly guzzle from in cinemas, sports arenas and other outlets.

However, there is nothing to stop people from buying as much drink as they like by refilling smaller containers.

Also, the ban does not extend to drinks sold in supermarkets or any dairy or fruit drinks, many of which also contain huge quantities of sugar.

Diet and alcoholic drinks are also exempted.

The measure, which could face legal challenges from the soft drinks industry, takes effect in six months.

But the newly-built basketball stadium for the Brooklyn Nets announced it will immediately adopt the rules, well head of the March 12 deadline.

The measure generated a stormy debate, including 38,000 comments written to the Board of Health.

Polls showed a majority of people opposed the ban.

ABC/AFP