City planning to ban sale of oversized sweetened drinks

jane, ftw.


I just don't get it. really. why is it OK for the government to tell me what I can buy -- which it really is here -- and tell companies what they can sell me? limiting sugary drinks to 16 ounces is insane intrusion.

(maybe someone should tell bloomberg that there's been a 20 percent reduction in calories consumed, per capita, through soda over the last 10 years already. I think we're doing OK on our own, gov.)

Sure, I think HUGE portion sizes of food and drinks just distorts our view of how much we should actually be eating at a time, so getting rid of ridiculously large serves of anything seems like a great idea to me.
But, I don't think it should apply onto to sweetened drinks, it should apply to all drinks. Otherwise you are still led to believe that a huge serving size is normal, or necessary, regardless of what is actually in the cup.

So even if I got a 'big gulp' and filled it with Unsweetened Unflavored Iced Tea, then that amount of 0 calorie beverage is unnecessary for me?

Hmmm...and I thought I was supposed to drink 64oz of water a day...:grumble:

The food police are right around the corner

There goes another little bit of free choice (freedom).

They'll chip away and chip away until its all gone.

I think I'm a libertarian at heart, because I will never think it's right to legally regulate things just because they're unhealthy. Especially if they're only unhealthy to the person consuming them. If people want to kill themselves slowly with sugar it's not my business. If they want to kill themselves fast with crack that's not my business, either.

Down with the nanny state.

I won't bother restating, that is perfect.

Americans have a tendency to force their opinions on others as laws. It is disappointing. If someone wants to drink a pound of sugar, smoke a cigarette in their own place of business, or marry their same sex cousin, it is really none of anyone's business. F'ing haters.

This guy's gonna be upset:

I think I'm a libertarian at heart, because I will never think it's right to legally regulate things just because they're unhealthy. Especially if they're only unhealthy to the person consuming them. If people want to kill themselves slowly with sugar it's not my business. If they want to kill themselves fast with crack that's not my business, either.

Down with the nanny state.

But they aren't limiting how much you eat/drink - it just means that if you want two large drinks, you buy two large drinks. How is that restricting your liberty?

The problem here is government regulation of private industry. Can I buy two mediums if I want a large? Sure. But why should "Big Brother" dictate whether a corporation can sell a large in the first place? It's socialist at best to interject government regulations on private endeavors. Don't you have enough on your mind these days, government? You need to start stirring your fingers around in the private sector as well? GET OUT!!

Look, would having laws like this mean that MFP would no longer be needed? They are still going to be free refills. It's a stupid move. Healthy eating is a lifestyle, not a law.

For example: People still get drink, and even when booze was illegal, people still drank. Our culture is created by advertizing and occasionally pop creative folks. It will never work.

It is the same thing with guns. When they are outlawed, only the outlaws will have them. Good luck New York.

This ^^^^

You can't regulate personal responsibility.

Amen, dsjohndrow

I think I'm a libertarian at heart, because I will never think it's right to legally regulate things just because they're unhealthy. Especially if they're only unhealthy to the person consuming them. If people want to kill themselves slowly with sugar it's not my business. If they want to kill themselves fast with crack that's not my business, either.

Down with the nanny state.

This.

This quote sums up my feelings on that train of thought nicely.

"So I’m not a health freak, and no, I don’t want to pass laws mandating the eating of broccoli. But I do want us to understand how wrong and simple-minded our definition of freedom is today. Any time the government appears to be suggesting some program aimed at getting people to do something that is obviously good for themselves—buying health insurance, not eating a bucket of popcorn big enough that two cats could screw in it—a certain number of idiots jump up and cry “Ha! Nanny state! Taking away my freedom!”"

I could say more, but none of it would be particularly polite. However, I will say I enjoy having a government that actually cares about it's citizens. Government has a place in maintaining the well-being and general welfare of all of it's citizens at all times, and if that means some restrictions and/or requirements on behavior then so be it. After all, we already live in that world and I do not see much of a difference over I can't own an artillery piece over I can't buy a 2,000 calorie beverage. No typical person has the need for either one and both can too easily cause damage to society as a whole. In short, the rights of one person do not trump the good of us all.

I think I'm a libertarian at heart, because I will never think it's right to legally regulate things just because they're unhealthy. Especially if they're only unhealthy to the person consuming them. If people want to kill themselves slowly with sugar it's not my business. If they want to kill themselves fast with crack that's not my business, either.

Down with the nanny state.

This fer realz!

I think that people are forgetting that portion control is only part of the obesity problem in this country. Limiting the size of drinks is only slapping a band aid on the problem. The fact is a lot of people (adult and children) get zero exercise. How many conversations have you had with people that are full of nothing but excuses why they can't get off their butts and exercise. Kids don't play outside, they hide in their rooms with their video games. Family are doing fewer and fewer activities together. I know a lot of families that have never sat down together for dinner, its always fend for yourself.

I can go on and on listing reasons why as a country we are getting bigger. Taking away someone's rights to pick whatever size soda they want will not fix anything.

It will fix the problem of so many liquid calories and sugar going into the body from one cup. But no, it does not solve the epidemic, but it's a step in the right direction.