NYC Mayor Bloomburg bans large sodas

The government is becoming more intrusive each day. Does anyone remember "free will". It was my choice to stuff my
face and become this heavy. Now it is my choice to get healthy. Personal responsibility has become a thing of the past.
WAKE UP AMERICA!

I don't care about political parties.

This is another personal freedom lost. It should be up to the establishment on what drink sizes they sell. If it really is a problem, then let the establishment decide to not sell more than 16 oz. sodas. Just like it should be up to the establishment to allow or not allow smoking. These laws are frivolous, waste taxpayer money, and treat us like kids.

But, he is addressing the issue of obesity. What are your thoughts on ways to prevent at a city level? I don't believe limiting soda size will do it, but I'd just do anti-obesity campaigns, like they did the smokers. Treat it the same. Its easy to ***** and complain about this stuff, but coming up with solutions is always tough. I have already shot my anti-obesity campaign in my head 50 ways, lol.

I don't care about political parties.

This is another personal freedom lost. It should be up to the establishment on what drink sizes they sell. If it really is a problem, then let the establishment decide to not sell more than 16 oz. sodas. Just like it should be up to the establishment to allow or not allow smoking. These laws are frivolous, waste taxpayer money, and treat us like kids.

But, he is addressing the issue of obesity. What are your thoughts on ways to prevent at a city level? I don't believe limiting soda size will do it, but I'd just do anti-obesity campaigns, like they did the smokers. Treat it the same. Its easy to ***** and complain about this stuff, but coming up with solutions is always tough. I have already shot my anti-obesity campaign in my head 50 ways, lol.

I agree with the above.

On a personal note, this issue really pisses me off.

:yawn: for real.

thats going to fix obesity? right.

this is a crazy thought! how about the jumbo kitkats , or chinese food or you cant have extra cheese on pizza , or burgers more than 1/4 pound , no large fries , ban cheesecake! the list will go on and on and on

I would rather get big business out of our government. Didn't he try to get a soda tax passed, only to have it killed by lobbyists? I would be happy to pay a tax on all unnecessary items... like junk food and soda.

Why don't they just put true exercise back in the schools? Make those kids sweat. There is a huge difference in school gym classes now that what we did in the 70-80's.

Sure its easier to blame others for our faults and failures but lets start teaching the kids how to live a healthy lifestyle.

I think it's insulting to the human race and I also think that it's none of his business what people drink...and how much! Someone needs to catch him with a BIG GULP!! ugh!!

I think it's an excellent idea. There's an obesity epidemic in the United States and children are going to be the chief victims. Anything that can be done to make obviously unhealthy products less attractive is a good thing. In addition, the drinks are not banned, they simply are not allowed to be sold in gigantic sizes in certain establishments. You can still get a 32-ounce full-sugar drink at a convenience store. If you really 32 ounces of sugar in others, buy two drinks. But hey, doing that might actually make you think about whether you need to put that much sugar in your body.

The same people who are complaining about this complained about the requirement that fast food chains be required to post calorie and nutritional information and that smoking -- which is CLEARLY HAZARDOUS -- be banned from public areas.

I think it's insulting to the human race and I also think that it's none of his business what people drink...and how much! Someone needs to catch him with a BIG GULP!! ugh!!

Actually, it becomes everybody's business if we end up paying the medical expenses related to preventable obesity. And a lot of these people who drink these beverages are teenagers.

Someone mentioned smoking bans, etc., yet another way of government interference. I really hate being around smoke, having grown up with both parents smoking. When I first heard of a "crack down" on smokers, I thought "yippee", but then later realized, "hey, that's not right." Stay out, government, let us decide.

The problem is they WEREN'T deciding, despite all the negative evidence. My parents smoked, although they eventually quit. I never did because I was raised not to and the public health campaigns of the time were pretty effective. I have a right not to be required to inhale second-hand smoke. There's nothing defensible about smoking in a public place, any more than you can defend your right to use heroin or crack. It's indisputably unhealthy.

Many private apartment buildings have enforced no-smoking bans because smoking is unhealthy. Or some require smokers to install special filters so that their smoke does not affect others. Sometimes rules and regs create attitudinal changes.

When a certain percentage of the population engages in demonstrably unhealthy behaviors that adversely affect others (second-hand smoke, increased healthcare costs that burden us all) the government has to act when persuasion doesn't work. It's been known for over 50 years smoking is dangerous.

Food is a more difficult issue, because we must eat. But these ginormous sugary drinks are empty calories. Sure, one or two a year won't hurt you, but I imagine the research shows that some people are consuming these drinks in large amounts without thought and it's piling on the pounds.

Here's an excerpt of a New York Times story summarizing the proposal:


New York Plans to Ban Sale of Big Sizes of Sugary Drinks

New York City plans to enact a far-reaching ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters and street carts, in the most ambitious effort yet by the Bloomberg administration to combat rising obesity.

The proposed ban would affect virtually the entire menu of popular sugary drinks found in delis, fast-food franchises and even sports arenas, from energy drinks to pre-sweetened iced teas. The sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 fluid ounces — about the size of a medium coffee, and smaller than a common soda bottle — would be prohibited under the first-in-the-nation plan, which could take effect as soon as next March.

The measure would not apply to diet sodas, fruit juices, dairy-based drinks like milkshakes, or alcoholic beverages; it would not extend to beverages sold in grocery stores or convenience stores.

“Obesity is a nationwide problem, and all over the United States, public health officials are wringing their hands saying, ‘Oh, this is terrible,’ ” Mr. Bloomberg said in an interview on Wednesday in City Hall’s sprawling Governor’s Room.

“New York City is not about wringing your hands; it’s about doing something,” he said. “I think that’s what the public wants the mayor to do.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/31/nyregion/bloomberg-plans-a-ban-on-large-sugared-drinks.html

The government is becoming more intrusive each day. Does anyone remember "free will". It was my choice to stuff my
face and become this heavy. Now it is my choice to get healthy. Personal responsibility has become a thing of the past.
WAKE UP AMERICA!

"Personality Responsibility"? Nice sound, but it doesn't work for many people. In part because they live in a cultural environment that makes it easy to get overweight. Banning HUGE sugary drinks in certain areas is a start, although I think it's largely symbolic. Maybe one day there will be government supported gyms and eating programs for people who need them.

So, instead of educating people and teaching responsibility we spoon feed people forced choices? Insanity. No wonder there is such a lack of personal responsibility in general these days.

Not sure I know how to insert a photo but imma give it a shot




Seriously, the calories in a pop (soda) with syrup/sugar aren't insignificant and do nothing special for your health in a good way, but to just pick one thing to ban while avoiding the hard fact that we have created a society of over-consumption???

Irresponsible.

So, if I read our local article about the proposal correctly, it would still allow sales of large containers of diet drinks, am I right? So let's legalize the chemically bad stuff that we aren't exactly sure of how bad it is for us and for our environment, but ban the stuff our body can process, even if it is bad for us?
I think it's ridiculous that the drinks are supersized to the size that they are, but I think it's even more ridiculous that people buy and drink that much soda. I have MAYBE one soda every year or two.

I might get flamed for this thought, but here it is. I think the solution lies in making people take responsiblity for themselves. If you have health issues from morbid obesity then it shold not be subsidized by our government or our health insurance companies. It should come out of your own pocket. NOW, if you can document that you are progressing towards health (lowering your weight, exercising, focusing on getting healthier) then I think the companies should help subsidize medical costs. If people are made aware of the direct consequences of their actions AND held accountable (which is sorely lacking in our society at large today) them maybe we can see some progress towards getting our nation healthier. BUT I also think that nickle and diming the issue won't help- making large sodas illegal will most likely not work.