NYC Large sugary drink ban proposed

ericcumbee

If the government wanted to do something they should keep people from buying softdrinks and junk food with EBT/Food Stamps.

every time i go to the grocery i get stuck in line behind someone that has a case of soft drinks, a couple boxes of little debbie cakes, and potato chips, and when they go to pay they whip out a peach card

liftingheavy

And I hopeful that all who have passionately participated in this thread will remember to take just a little of that passion to the voting booth in November and get this more government in our lives trend reversed as soon as possible.

People like to parrot talking points, not really do anything. Buzzwords like "nanny state" were coined by the exact people who profit from the fattening up and dumbing down of Americans.

If you are going to go on an anti-government rant, at least be original. And how many of the anti govt folks here are on some type of government assistance? Don't answer that.

You don't hate the government, you just want to pick and choose what suits you and to (HE double hockey sticks) with anyone who may benefit from some other type of government intervention.

mncardiojunkie

Vickeywells:

I'd rather say that I am PRO-individual. I'm an optimist. I believe in my fellow man. I believe that people will do the right thing, why-because I do. I greet my fellow human beings with good intentions in all cases. I watch out for my neighbor. I run about spreading fairy dust and rainbows. I'm naive and I like it. Regardless of how many people try to prove me wrong, I believe in individuals governing their own behavior and I trust my fellow humans.


I have worked under and with several politicians. Bright and honest ones: Clinton, Doles (Elizabeth and Bob), Ventura, Arnie Carlson and yes, Bush (not a mean bone in that man's body). These are exceptions. The hundreds of others that I have been exposed to were so out of touch, ditsy, goofy and possessed no common sense of their own. Almost every move they made was self serving and power hungry. Why? They couldn't survive in a work environment where they HAD TO FUNCTION, so they struggle to stay in office than serve the people. I could write a book about this with 1000s of proven examples. I can back up everything that I say. They didn't lift a little finger if it didn't serve their re-election campaign. I have walked away from a conversation with a politician just shaking my head thinking "This guy/gal is so stupid. How the heck did it get elected." I've had conversations with politicians that I did not know were politicians. About 10 years ago I had a conversation with a women and a man at an event and when they left, I was so baffled by their stupidity I had to ask someone who they were. Guess what? They are currently our governor and state's attorney.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Law makers think that they are beyond and above the law. There is not one law that doesn't have a loop hole. Therefore, it's only that we are becoming puppets to these fine individuals. This is not theory, this is personal experience. Regulations and stupid laws make people lie and hide the truth.

scagneti

Just drink coconut water... It's so good.

Interesting -- there are 43 calories in 8 oz of coconut water. So there are 172 in the dreaded 32oz size. So eventually, wouldn't Bloomberg look at banning that?

WifeNMama

I can't believe they aren't expanding the ban to diet soda. Artificial sweeteners are horrible for people.

If they're going to go through with this, Nutella will be next!

liftingheavy

Vickeywells:

I'd rather say that I am PRO-individual. I'm an optimist. I believe in my fellow man. I believe that people will do the right thing, why-because I do. I greet my fellow human beings with good intentions in all cases. I watch out for my neighbor. I run about spreading fairy dust and rainbows. I'm naive and I like it. Regardless of how many people try to prove me wrong, I believe in individuals governing their own behavior and I trust my fellow humans.


I have worked under and with several politicians. Bright and honest ones: Clinton, Doles (Elizabeth and Bob), Ventura, Arnie Carlson and yes, Bush (not a mean bone in that man's body). These are exceptions. The hundreds of others that I have been exposed to were so out of touch, ditsy, goofy and possessed no common sense of their own. Almost every move they made was self serving and power hungry. Why? They couldn't survive in a work environment where they HAD TO FUNCTION, so they struggle to stay in office than serve the people. I could write a book about this with 1000s of proven examples. I can back up everything that I say. They didn't lift a little finger if it didn't serve their re-election campaign. I have walked away from a conversation with a politician just shaking my head thinking "This guy/gal is so stupid. How the heck did it get elected." I've had conversations with politicians that I did not know were politicians. About 10 years ago I had a conversation with a women and a man at an event and when they left, I was so baffled by their stupidity I had to ask someone who they were. Guess what? They are currently our governor and state's attorney.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Law makers think that they are beyond and above the law. There is not one law that doesn't have a loop hole. Therefore, it's only that we are becoming puppets to these fine individuals. This is not theory, this is personal experience. Regulations and stupid laws make people lie and hide the truth.

I do not disagree with anything you have said here. I am neither pro politician or pro government necessarily. I volunteered for the last 3 Presidential campaigns, and suffice it to say I will not volunteer again.

I believe this debate has gone so far off topic so many times that the central point has been lost. There is nothing wrong with a Mayor of a big state, who no doubt has access to the costs of obesity, diabetes, etc. for that state to make SOME attempt to improve the situation. It is not a fix - it's just a step.

Reading comments about the "government" banning soda - a nanny state - big brother - stay the he__ out of my life - etc. are disheartning to be honest. If you have read any of my previous posts, I am clueless about what to do with the childhood obesity crisis in this country. I do not have children, and I work with them on a weekly basis. The size of these children is alarming. Adults can do what they choose to do, including buying several sodas and vote out Mayor Bloomberg. Children have no voice and we have to give them a fighting chance at good health for so many reasons,

I am concerned about their future and ours. If a 52 ounce soda is no longer available to them I say that is a good thing. All other government issues aside.

Sharonks

I believe that large amounts of sugary drinks do cause weight gain. I got my hubs to quit drinking so much and he has been slowly and steadily losing weight in a nice healthy way. That being said, I don't think the government should be telling people how to buy a legal food. It's not that the drinks won't be available in 2 liter bottles or in smaller cups that could be refilled multiple times so what difference does it make? Will they ban family packs of meat, 2 liter pops, big bags of candy bars, etc? I prefer the government to not get that far into my life.

LilacDreamer

I believe that large amounts of sugary drinks do cause weight gain. I got my hubs to quit drinking so much and he has been slowly and steadily losing weight in a nice healthy way. That being said, I don't think the government should be telling people how to buy a legal food. It's not that the drinks won't be available in 2 liter bottles or in smaller cups that could be refilled multiple times so what difference does it make? Will they ban family packs of meat, 2 liter pops, big bags of candy bars, etc? I prefer the government to not get that far into my life.

Large amounts of anything causes weight gain. So many don't understand the word "moderation" and that applies to everything....full fat, fat free, full sugar, sugar free, diet.


Yes, adults do have to take responsibility for themselves. But they don't. These habits start in childhood and that needs to be curbed. Perhaps this will help that, perhaps it won't. But something needs to be done.

Obesity is an epidemic. People were never this large before, in the history of this country. People walked everywhere, people spent hours and hours outside of there house (for reasons that were not work related), people cooked food at home, and drank beverages that came from the earth - not cooked up in some laboratory or built in a factory, people didnt spend there every free moment in front of a television watching reality show after reality show or playing video games, they didnt spend hours on the internet. they actually DID things. They LIVED life, they didn't just sit back and watch it pass them by as if life wasn't real.

Life is like a sims game, and society has made it that way.

londoneye

So Americans are lazier and greedier than Europeans? I don't buy that...

You don't have to buy it, but it doesn't make it untrue. I don't mean this offensively, but have you been to the US? Spend an hour in NYC and you will see that the American mentality is "WAY bigger is WAY better." We want bigger cars, bigger houses, and bigger portions. I've never visited Europe but have many friends who have and they say that the culture is like night and day.

The bottom line is, if we didn't have the choice to be healthy, then no one would be. How do you think healthy people maintain their healthy lifestyles if we are apparently so opressed? How come environment and public policy aren't making THEM fat?

Yes, I've travelled all over the US. Of course some people (usually the wealthiest and best educated) have the resources to achieve a healthy lifestyle despite their environment, but the vast majority don't.

In the 50s, Americans were satisfied with normal sized portions, because that was all that was available. I don't think Americans have always had an innate inner drive to drink bucket-sized servings of soda. They are confronted with supersized deals that mean that they pay proportionally less for buying in bulk. You are incentivised to buy and consume more.

I'd also like to challenge this very narrow and limited concept of 'freedom' that is floating around here. What about the freedom from being the victim of corporate greed and irresponsibility?

And by the way, a limit on serving sizes is not 'oppression'. To say so is kind of insulting to people who have actually experienced the real thing!

Hasu

Everything in moderation people.

I have NEVER drank those super super sized sodas but what happens one day if I really REALLY wanted to and they're against the law in NYC? lol - Its just silly.

They stepped in to make vending machines in schools healthier. I could get on board there since kids aren't usually very informed about nutrition.

However, to say to a full grown adult who has earned the right to make their own choices what size drinks are and aren't allowed is a tad ridiculous. That's TOO much involvment from big brother right there. The "obesity epidemic" as they're loving to call it would be MUCH better served if there was better education and information out there, especially for lower income people who did not have ready access to the internet.

londoneye

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesity

That aside, I've traveled extensively in Europe. Their kids know 2-3 languages, many study year round, and they are overall healther. Companies in the US cannot find folks here for technical work and bring folks over from India at this point.

China has other issues that contribute to life expectancy, and one of the big ones is the difference in class. Their kids are as smart as whips though, and run circles around ours and that offends me. This is an old study but looking for a newer one. It's probably worse.

http://www.businessinsider.com/20-countries-that-have-smarter-children-than-america-2010-6

So you proved my point for me... Obesity is one factor in health.. I would think that life expectancy is more all encompassing a measure.. People in the US live longer.

Smarter... so that article finds 20 countries with smarter kids... out of 179 countries across the world not bad. Especially take into account relative size of many of those superior countries, you would be better off comparing them to individual states let alone the entire nation.

Since when did people in the US have long life expectancies? Have you not heard of how long people live in the Mediterranean? The US is behind most countries in Europe on health and life expectancy scores. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy

londoneye

There is actually sound reasoning to this.

I'm not one of those Paleo hipsters but the human body did not evolve a mechanism to cope with liquid calories other than milk. At least when you eat candy, chips, or eat buckets of greasy fries, your body actually knows that it took in calories. There is the hromonal repsonse that is associated with "I have eaten something". With non-milk liquid calories (milk also contains fat and protein) the body has no hormonal response (aside from the insulin reaction to the blood glucose), it has no idea it ingested something, and the insulin response to the calories actually makes you hungrier.

Liquid calories are very much one of the main causes of obesity, the human body cannot cope with them. IMHO it is no different than smoking really (the human body also has no mechnaism to cope with constant smoke ingestion). And note that this does include fruit juice, which is no better than sweetened soda.

And if people want to choose to eat what they want, the gov't should get to choose who does and doesn't get gov't health care. You can have your sugary soda if you are permanently opted out of medicare, given the finger at the emergency room w/o insurance, and all other forms of gov't paid for medical assistance.

You're right. Apparently sugary drinks are the only foodstuff directly associated with obesity.

oldmanstauf

If the government wanted to do something they should keep people from buying softdrinks and junk food with EBT/Food Stamps.

every time i go to the grocery i get stuck in line behind someone that has a case of soft drinks, a couple boxes of little debbie cakes, and potato chips, and when they go to pay they whip out a peach card

Very true. I worked at the front end of a grocery store in VT for a number of years. Without fail and the start of every month, what you described happened most of the time. And the kicker, probably about 75% of the time, if the family went over on their food stamps, the FIRST thing to put back was the fresh chicken, beef, etc.

AlmstHvn

If the governor's plan was to get people talking and thinking about how much sugar they consume, I believe he was successful!

michaelfurey

LET'S SEE - they raised the price of cigarettes to $5-7.00 per pack and it didn't stop the smokers. People need to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OBESITY. Its not Coca-Cola's fault !!!

Actually, raising the prices of cigarettes through taxation HAS stopped a lot of people from smoking. Education, laws banning smoking in public places, and ad campaigns talking about the evil of smoking have all contributed to a drastic drop in smoking since the 1970s.

A tax on large drinks, education, ads AGAINST SODA naming Coke and Pepsi, etc, giving kids more gym time, and PARENTS getting more involved in their kids lives will all help stop obesity. All of them can work together. There is no magic bullet to fix the problem. Americans are just lazy *kitten*, and they get lazier every generation. It's that simple.

liftingheavy

If the governor's plan was to get people talking and thinking about how much sugar they consume, I believe he was successful!

Bingo! Smart like a fox. And thank goodness.

liftingheavy

LET'S SEE - they raised the price of cigarettes to $5-7.00 per pack and it didn't stop the smokers. People need to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OBESITY. Its not Coca-Cola's fault !!!

Actually, raising the prices of cigarettes through taxation HAS stopped a lot of people from smoking. Education, laws banning smoking in public places, and ad campaigns talking about the evil of smoking have all contributed to a drastic drop in smoking since the 1970s.

A tax on large drinks, education, ads AGAINST SODA naming Coke and Pepsi, etc, giving kids more gym time, and PARENTS getting more involved in their kids lives will all help stop obesity. All of them can work together. There is no magic bullet to fix the problem. Americans are just lazy *kitten*, and they get lazier every generation. It's that simple.

All true, and it's about time we as Americans pull off the band-aid and accept the fact that we need to make changes in this country to keep us #1 for our future generations.

Get off the "national debt" rant... Obesity will kill us off first, or worse, leave us vulnerable to the jack__es that want to take us out. Know for sure that this is true.

Justkeepswimmin

Vickeywells:

I'd rather say that I am PRO-individual. I'm an optimist. I believe in my fellow man. I believe that people will do the right thing, why-because I do. I greet my fellow human beings with good intentions in all cases. I watch out for my neighbor. I run about spreading fairy dust and rainbows. I'm naive and I like it. Regardless of how many people try to prove me wrong, I believe in individuals governing their own behavior and I trust my fellow humans.


I have worked under and with several politicians. Bright and honest ones: Clinton, Doles (Elizabeth and Bob), Ventura, Arnie Carlson and yes, Bush (not a mean bone in that man's body). These are exceptions. The hundreds of others that I have been exposed to were so out of touch, ditsy, goofy and possessed no common sense of their own. Almost every move they made was self serving and power hungry. Why? They couldn't survive in a work environment where they HAD TO FUNCTION, so they struggle to stay in office than serve the people. I could write a book about this with 1000s of proven examples. I can back up everything that I say. They didn't lift a little finger if it didn't serve their re-election campaign. I have walked away from a conversation with a politician just shaking my head thinking "This guy/gal is so stupid. How the heck did it get elected." I've had conversations with politicians that I did not know were politicians. About 10 years ago I had a conversation with a women and a man at an event and when they left, I was so baffled by their stupidity I had to ask someone who they were. Guess what? They are currently our governor and state's attorney.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Law makers think that they are beyond and above the law. There is not one law that doesn't have a loop hole. Therefore, it's only that we are becoming puppets to these fine individuals. This is not theory, this is personal experience. Regulations and stupid laws make people lie and hide the truth.

I do not disagree with anything you have said here. I am neither pro politician or pro government necessarily. I volunteered for the last 3 Presidential campaigns, and suffice it to say I will not volunteer again.

I believe this debate has gone so far off topic so many times that the central point has been lost. There is nothing wrong with a Mayor of a big state, who no doubt has access to the costs of obesity, diabetes, etc. for that state to make SOME attempt to improve the situation. It is not a fix - it's just a step.

Reading comments about the "government" banning soda - a nanny state - big brother - stay the he__ out of my life - etc. are disheartning to be honest. If you have read any of my previous posts, I am clueless about what to do with the childhood obesity crisis in this country. I do not have children, and I work with them on a weekly basis. The size of these children is alarming. Adults can do what they choose to do, including buying several sodas and vote out Mayor Bloomberg. Children have no voice and we have to give them a fighting chance at good health for so many reasons,

I am concerned about their future and ours. If a 52 ounce soda is no longer available to them I say that is a good thing. All other government issues aside.

I just want to applaud the poster you are quoting for taking the time to write out hi/sher post, which I whole heartedly agree with. It's not about the soda, it's about how far we want the government intruding into our lives. It's a slipery slope of small things that sound just so reasonable, but if you hand over the power to do this what other powers will you hand over eventually? It is NOT the government's job to fix the healthy problem with our kids, it's OUR responsibility. Stop taking away personal responsibility from the people.

davekyguy

The Country I was born into was a FREE country, you can choose what you eat, if and where you go to Church, and when you talk on the phone.

Anyone that thinks it's the Government's job to micro manage their lives needs to grow up and move out of their parent's basement.

davekyguy

Did you know that in this rich mayor's company he has soda on tap with free unlimited refills for his workers?? What a hypocrite.

Brooklynw1102

I think its a crazy idea...and one that won't work. If someone wants a bigger drink, they'll just buy two. If you want to combat obesity (as this is was geareds more towards chldren), than you should have more salad bar options in school, healthier snacks in the snack machine but kids like many adults (who are obese now, myself included) don't (or at least I didn't) understand proper nutrition. So the real key to combating obesity is not to ban the foods to make people more aware of how they should be eaten.

capnwo85

Can't I just buy 4 regular $1 drinks then?

utahgirl247

I can understand how the city of New York may think that this is the answer to combating obesity but its not, yes it is a start but there is still going to be the buttery popcorn and candy and the movies, the fried and fatty foods at resturants and delis. I think that it would further the cause to educate people on the benefits of exercise and making the right food choices. I believe that by teaching people how to shop for healthy food and how to incorporate those foods in their diets would be very benefical. Also exericise is a huge factor, in order to burn the calories one has consumed they need to exercise whether its walking, running, swimming, or aerobics just as long as they are burning calories. If your a parent get you kids off the couch, away from their phones and video games and exercise as a family, and introduce them to healthy fruits and vegis instead of potato chips, cookies and sodas for a snack.

irefusetoquit

I like the idea myself, but I don't drink much soda. My husband on the other hand would be devastated..

Agreed, its a great way to start. But they gotta keep going to make this work.

Its like putting a band-aid on a cut that runs down your arm. Its not gonna do a thing. Resolve the current problem and eliminate what caused the problem in the first place!

ChristiH4000

Even though I'm as liberal as they come, I'm not sure these knit-picky legislative efforts are the way to go. Educating people beginning in childhood about proper nutrition/diet seems like a much more proactive approach. Food police seems ineffective at best and possibly an intrusion on privacy.

sherrirb

Just what we need. More government control. Welcome to the nanny state!

^^^^ THIS!!!

The more people "let" government make their decisions for them, the more people WONT be allowed to make decisions for themselves.

Many of us (I know not all so dont go there) got fat by our own choices. We know this. It was the food we put into our mouth. No one made us this way but ourselves. Everyone here is trying to take conscious efforts to change the way we think, act and eat.

Obesity - for most - is all about choice. What you chose to put into your body. Now you are saying that it is great that the government is stepping in to make the decision for people to "reduce the amount of sugar they consume" by reducing the quantity per container??

People CHOSE to drink those beverages, just like people CHOSE to drink and drive; the consequences are their own. PERIOD.

I dont want government telling me what I can and cannot eat. We already have had attempts by the federal government to restrict personal gardens.... Come on people, WAKE UP!!! http://www.campaignforliberty.com/blog.php?view=12671

davekyguy

It started with Cigarettes,then light bulbs, and sin taxes on SUVs,now Soda? And before long they will be telling you how big your house can be and how many pets you are allowed to own. You people that think this is a good idea better think it through.

I know a bunch of people will scream, CFL lightbulbs are better for the environment. Really? How many people do you know that actually recycle these bulbs instead of throwing the mercury laden things into the landfill to seep into our drinking water?

http://www.epa.gov/cfl/cflcleanup-detailed.html

If these bulbs are this dangerous why are we forced to use them. (Incandescent bulbs have been outlawed in phases and will soon all be gone)

Use a tiny bit more electricity or drink mercury..hmmm

Let's just ban sugar altogether, oh yeah.. Alcohol is bad for us too.

It's all good as long as they are making your neighbor conform to your lifestyle, but eventually it will trickle down to your hobbies and pleasures.

doubglass

How about a ration card for every one with a high bmi. Would that be government doing enough? Geez! These guys need to get out our pockets, our bedrooms, our kitchens and our 7-11s. Bloomberg is a busybody CREEP!

future_runner

May have been said but, I think Insurance companies should have higher premiums for people who are obese, just like they do for smokers. And I mean obese, not overweight, so dont lay in on me about "fat bashing"

future_runner

What ever happened to PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY!

It is NOT the governments job to regulate what and how much we eat! If I want to overeat, having a ban on x-large soda is not going to stop me...nor will it stop anyone else.

Get the governement out of my life...if I wanted the governement to control it, I will just go live in a communist country!

What is next? ...x-large bags of candy, big macs, whoppers, large pizza with toppings,etc....????

Well you can't live in a communist country because they dont exist. All countries that have tried have not gotten there, because as I am sure you know, Communist societies- once achieved- continue to function and no longer need government. Only at the point when the function of the people replace the function of the government is communist achieved. What you are thinking of is likely tyranny, or countries with a dictator that call themselves communist. Or perhaps you are thinking of a socialist country, like Sweden maybe? Socialism is an economic policy furthered by government not a form of government in case there was any confusion about it being the same thing as communism. Its also an essential part of America's economy but I am seriously digressing.

Off the soap box.

I think this is a terrible execution of what is (hopefully) good thinking. Premiums and restrictions on health coverage for the obese did not make it into the PPACA, but I think that is a better way to go. Restricting the serving size of one high caloric beverage will have no other effect then to increase trash from plastic cups. No good. What we need is programs in our schools (funded by taxes and run by the government) and food safety regulations geared more towards food health and purity (which is done by the FDA, a government entity).

I am not saying I want the government in business, I certainly do not. However, I do want them in their business. The things I mentioned are, and long have been, their business. I also do not see the logic in all the people saying things like "if someone wants to be obese that is there choice and they are the ones that have to live with it" because it simply is not true. Obesity brings on a whole slew of health problems. We currently (as in before the individual mandate goes in to effect) have a collective health care system. You do not pay in to health care and then take your money back out when you need it. People that have health insurance and rarely use it subsidize those that use it frequently but pay in to it a similar amount. Further, people who chose not to pay in to the collective but eventually need it health insurance are subsidized as well. And tax payers cover insurance for people on medicaid, medicare, and veterans aide (socialism). Obsesity is a huge problem (no pun intended) in this country and it is likely your problem no matter what you weigh.

My point- generally speaking, the rising obesity rates are within the government's (local, state, federal- a federal regulatory scheme imho would work most effectively) interest to do something about it. However, this BS attempt at regulating coke sizes? Not the right way to do it.