NYC sugary drinks ban

R+Jamz · September 2012

Today they're voting on Mayor (Nanny) Bloomberg's proposal to ban the sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 oz. I'm all for taking steps to encourage people to be healthier, but this seems like it's going too far to me. What do you think about it?

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/31/nyregion/bloomberg-plans-a-ban-on-large-sugared-drinks.html?pagewanted=all

Sorry not clicky, I'm on my iPad.

Marie509 · September 2012

It's not going to help anything. If people want to buy big asss drinks - they will. Even if it means buying 2 or 3. What's next? The government dictates enough in or lives. I'm not ok with them telling me what I can and can not eat/drink.

tiannalee · September 2012

I am on the fence about stuff like this because I think that American people in general (not specific people, just in general) have proven that they cannot be trusted to choose healthy eating over crap. BUT, at the same time, should we be allowing our government to make these kinds of decision for us? It is kind of slippery slope argument.

R+Jamz · September 2012

tiannalee:
I am on the fence about stuff like this because I think that American people in general (not specific people, just in general) have proven that they cannot be trusted to choose healthy eating over crap. BUT, at the same time, should we be allowing our government to make these kinds of decision for us? It is kind of slippery slope argument.

This is how I feel. On the one hand, people do tend to make unhealthy choices, and maybe the government should have a say in that because it does end up costing the government money in some ways. On the other hand, we really should be free to make our own choices about these sorts of things. I'm more in favor of programs to educate people on how to make the healthy choices rather than making those choices for them.

Also, I've been all in favor of Bloomberg's health initiatives in the past, especially the smoking ban and the help that he's given to people to stop smoking. Is this much different? Is it just that smoking is seen as more of a health risk than sugary drinks?

AmyJoy728 · September 2012

I can understand the ban in schools, but everyone - no way!

jkfranklin · September 2012

tiannalee:
I am on the fence about stuff like this because I think that American people in general (not specific people, just in general) have proven that they cannot be trusted to choose healthy eating over crap. BUT, at the same time, should we be allowing our government to make these kinds of decision for us? It is kind of slippery slope argument.

This is exactly how I feel!

I think it will probably help a lot of people because if you can buy a 40oz soda for 10 cents more than a 16oz soda, you will probably do it, and then drink the whole thing even if you really would have been fine with 16oz.

But, what's next?

Ximena M · September 2012

I guess I just don't get why someone would drink that much soda at one time anyway. I drink maybe a can every month and a half at the most. I agree with being on the fence though. When I do order a soda I think while if I get the larger one it is one $0.32 more cents I should get my money's worth. It's kind of the same thing with fast food meals. I rarely eat fast food, but the drinks are so cheap with the meal that sometimes I feel like I'm loosing out on something if I don't get a soda. It would be better to make people order their meals al la cart at fast food places or offer bottled water as part of the meal.

IttyBittyBee · September 2012

Just another part of your life regulated by the govt. I think its complete bullshiz. How can the govt tell me what I can and cannot drink. Oh I can't drink 20oz at a time? Ok, ill just buy 2 16oz and then ill have 32oz. Crisis solved. Bravo NY! Genious!

huahualove · September 2012

I agree, going way too far, the government shouldn't have control over something like that. Also, he does know someone could get a refill or buy more than one drink, right??

Christina_Diane · September 2012

I've been following this and, and think I understand the logic behind this, the government should not ban things like soda. It won't help.what are they going to do next? Go grocery shopping with people and make sure they don't buy and ho hos?

The government has done something similar with foods at schools. Soda and predetermined "unhealthy" food is limited. Almost all of the students at my school receive lunch from the federal free and or reduced lunch program, which has some strict (they think) dietary guidelines. In order for the school to receive reimbursement from the Feds, the lunches for these students must be considered "whole meals" that meet the predetermined dietary guidelines,

A slice of pizza and chocolate milk is a meal that they consider to be healthy.

Sorry, I totally went off on a tangent.

Boo nanny governments.

TrudyCampbell · September 2012

I guess I'm in the minority but the ban doesn't bother me and I generally like Bloomberg. I think far too many NYC kids are probably drinking giant sodas just because they exist and then they learn to expect and want that much soda. If someone really wants more soda they can buy two so the govt isn't really limiting much.

starshollow · September 2012

I hate that Bloomberg is targeting stupid things like this. Why should the government regulate the size of a soda you can get at a concert or sporting event? I feel like this is going to cause people to spend more money to buy multiple sodas instead of one large soda. When H and I are out, we get the bigger size so we can split it. This is not an area that the government should be involved.

JFH2010 · September 2012

The government isn't taking away choice if this passes. You're still free to drink as much soda as you want. It's just changing the default option. There's some interesting research about how people will choose the default option no matter what it is, in many cases, so changing it is a reasonable public health strategy. If the proposal was to BAN SODA, that would bother me. That's not the case.

lindy27 · September 2012

I don't know how I feel about it, and I am pretty liberal. In an ideal society, the companies wouldn't even offer 40 oz drinks! Or they wouldn't offer a 16 oz drink for 1.99 and a 40 oz drink for 2.10, encouraging people to get the huge size.

I think if anything, they should offer incentives to companies to not offer certain foods, like triple stack cheeseburgers with bacon and a 40 oz drink. What those incentives would be, idk, lower taxes?

BelleWithABlade · September 2012

I think it's silly personally. There are so many ways people choose to be unhealthy, this is just one.

TrudyCampbell · September 2012

JFH2010:
The government isn't taking away choice if this passes. You're still free to drink as much soda as you want. It's just changing the default option. There's some interesting research about how people will choose the default option no matter what it is, in many cases, so changing it is a reasonable public health strategy. If the proposal was to BAN SODA, that would bother me. That's not the case.

This is a better worded version of what I feel Smile

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