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January 2011 Moms
HALFM00N
member
Ban on sugary drinks in NYC?
HALFM00N
member
What do you guys think? I think it's a great idea! haha But some say the mayor has gone too far controlling what you eat. I think he is just trying to help people make better choices. You can buy 2-16 oz drinks if you really wanted 32 oz, right??
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Ban on sugary drinks in NYC?
Theoretically I think government should step out of people's lives.
However, we're all paying the price for the obesity epedemic with rising healthcare costs.
I don't think banning sugary drinks in this fashion is going to make any sort of considerable difference, but at least they're trying.
I think it's stupid. It just means that people are going to eat inside McDonald's (to get their refill) instead of drive thru.
First they are controlling the drinks, then what? Fries? Mayo? Where does it stop?
I agree with SH. Are they going to tell sit-down resturants that they can't give unlimited refills on soft drinks? Ban on buffets?
It's not just about an obesity epidemic, it about the effects all this sugar has on your body/ organs. People are really disgusting with what they eat, and this is one of the major reasons cancer is on the increase. All those processed/ preserved crap is really hard on your cells causing mutations here, there and everywhere, leading to cancer. This is a huge topic in pharma and everytime there is a new disease target, diet is always the number contributor.
There are mostly only sit downs here in the city anyway but people are always in a rush. My hubby drives out to the island and only uses a drive through, so if it were a law there, he would definitely be limited.
Well first it was no smoking everywhere (but you can still smoke in cars), then they introduced calorie counts on all chain restaurants, then no crap/ junk foods at K-12 schools, and now they are just taking it up a notch. A lot of people said they became more aware of calorie intake with the calorie counts on the menus, so that was very positive.
I guess I see it from a different perspective, my DH eats any and everything, and when he chooses, it's the most unhealthy things (super annoying). But he says he has no will power to say no... I am more like hello, this is your health, duh it's a no!!! So I see how "rules" like these can influence people like him. I also work in health care and I see daily how diet really does affect your body, so I am all about spreading awareness.( There is a TON of billboards, signs, etc about the effects of calorie laden/ sugary foods, so they did try spreading the word).
Technically, you can drink all you want, you just have to buy extra
You can eat all the sugar you want..if you're burning it off. If I chug a 32oz coke before I go cycle for 25 miles it isn't really going to matter because my body will burn off all the calories/sugar (and it would actually be beneficial to have a high level of sugar in my system pre-workout). That's the problem-people are chugging these huge sodas and then not burning off the calories/sugar they ingest. They're sitting in their bodies and turning into fat. Obesity is caused by eating more calories than you burn-plain and simple. Professional athletes can drink all the soda they want and eat all the calories they want and still keep a healthy weight because their bodies burn what they take in.
I really like the idea of healthcare companies offering financial incentives for people to lose weight/maintain a healthy weight/go to the gym regularly. I think this is a whole lot more effective than banning what people can eat/drink.
Right, but if Im able to buy as many 5ths of jack and packs of cigarettes I want...why are they going to limit my soda intake? I understand that people have no will power, but those people need to get a grip.
Right, but if Im able to buy as many 5ths of jack and packs of cigarettes I want...why are they going to limit my soda intake? I understand that people have no will power, but those people need to get a grip.
I mostly agree with the ban. It's not just about the calories. If I chug 32 oz of soda and then bike 25 miles I might burn off the calories, but the junk in the soda will still have an effect on my cells and how my body functions. At the very least, I think stores should not be allowed to say "Would you like an extra large for only 25 cents more?" (And that goes for Starbucks too.)
People will finish whatever is in front of them, even if they didn't want it all or need it all. So if they have less offered, they'll have less of it. I understand the issue of government control and usually want less of it, but the amount of crap available is just too much. I'm very much in support of changing the food that kids eat at school. I think it's great that they banned trans fats at restaurants.
The ban does NOT include fruit drinks and I think that's actually a problem. A lot of those are 1 or 2% juice and the rest is sugar.
We live just outside NYC and I wish the ban and some of the other rules would extend to here (we have the calorie counts at most places).
But then why should we pay for people to work out when they should be already? I know insurances have a ton of incentives but nothing monetary. You see I LOVE sugary stuff just like the next person, but I HATE working out nor have the time for it...so what do I do? Just not eat as much sugar!! I walk about 7-9 miles per day so I count that as my "activity"
And thy're not banning it, just limiting how much you can purchase at once to remind you, hey you just drank an entire 16oz!! And in all honesty, lazy people will be lazy, I wouldn't care about a financial incentive to work out but then again I am very comfortable financially so who knows.
Ahh thank you so much... my thoughts exactly. I am glad someone else agrees! Apart from hearing about cancer all day long, I feel strongly about it because I see my DH drink crap all the time, and I feel like it will help people like him.
Health insurance companies (not the collective "we") should provide financial incentives for people to work out because it will save insurance companies (as well as the general public) more money in the long run. We all pay the price for obesity. Insurance companies have to pay out more to cover obese/overweight individuals because they're more prone to a slew of medical conditions then we get charged more from health insurance companies to help make up the difference. It's a vicious cycle. Also, those on medicare costs the country a whole lot of money as well.
A lot of people who are overweight/obese are not financially comfortable so it has shown promise as being motivating.
Here's a little bit more on it. While these programs are still fairly new, they do seem to be effective.
https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2012/02/14/employees-get-paid-to-exercise-while-some-pay-to-sit-out
https://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/25/business/la-fi-healthcare-rewards-20111025
Exactly. If you have no self restraint then that's pretty fvckingsad. The government should not be parenting my food intake because some people can't stop at just one slice of pie.
And like I said before... where does it stop?
Newsflash...that's YOU. There are people out there that don't care and continue to eat the sugar and will continue to eat and drink the sugar no matter what. The government has no right to limit how much I or anyone else can purchase at a time. I agree with what they are doing with showing calories and making an effort to make sure the message is out there but guess what? Some people still do not care. Plain and simple. I like that school age children and teenagers don't have access to it at school and that schools are working on making sure kids learn about healthy eating and exercise habits and I think they should continue to do so. I also like and agree with putting how many calories are in a product or food in a visible spot to help make the consumer more aware but I think awareness is about as far as the government should go. They don't put a limit on how many packs of cigarettes someone can buy or how many gallons of ice cream someone can buy at the store so why put a limit on sugar drinks? I'm not sure why I'm typing this out anyways as it seems you'll have some type of comeback like you do with everyone else's response.
slow clap and not a small hard on for the lovely MrsH
There are so many taxes on cigarettes that I personally don't think they'll add any other limits.
The hospital system I work for (a private not-for profit system) has recently gone on a health rampage, specifically targeting nicotine, healthy food and sugar. They no longer hire nicotine users, have replaced most cafeteria/food options with healthier options, vending machines have crackers/trail mix/baked chips, and have replaced all cokes in the machines with diet (the artificial sweeteners argument is one for another day, apparently, lol). I have no problem with this, at all. As a healthcare system, I actually applaud their efforts to promote healthy choices. They are a private corporation and can decide, within reason, what goes on in their hospitals. Likewise, they government should be able to control what they sell/provide in government offices, buildings, agencies, etc, including public schools.
In the private lives of citizens? Not so much. IMO the government is spread in 800 different directions and is not exactly doing well at any of them. It's not the government's job to parent me.
It's a philosophical issue of government responsibility, not a practical issue. Sure, no one really should drink 32+oz of coke in one sitting, and we as a people might drink less coke and be a little more healthy if the availability were limited (I'm a little doubtful of this outcome though). But that doesn't mean it's any of the government's business to regulate.