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New York plans to ban large sodas

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GatoRage

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http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/31/n...arge-sugared-drinks.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&hp

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 or convenience stores.
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More in the link at the top.
 
I just read about this. It is stupid, pointless, and will not reduce obesity.
 
Now I can finally have a triple Whopper with a side of large fries and a soda without worrying about unhealthily large portion sizes.
 
Diet sodas are just as dangerous to our health too. If you guys are opposing what New York is doing, does that mean obesity is becoming socially accepted like smoking?
 
Ghetsis-Dennis said:
Diet sodas are just as dangerous to our health too. If you guys are opposing what New York is doing, does that mean obesity is becoming socially accepted like smoking?
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No, it means that people should take personal responsibility for being overweight. Instead of the government telling everyone (healthy and unhealthy) what they can and cannot have. Besides, you can just buy more, get free refills, etc.
 
Honestly this bill probably would reduce soda consumption in food establishments. People eat more when they're given larger portions, and that's the reason why soda portions are so large in fast food restaurants. Every time you refill you're reminded of how much you drink. If you're drinking out of a large cup this effect doesn't happen.

Regardless, I've already pointed out the stupidity in this bill. And a 16 fl oz soda portion is still very big.
 
Lief said:
my teacher said you could just buy two to make it up. Same deal here.
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Nicoleta01 said:
Besides, you can just buy more, get free refills, etc.
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Buying more will not work, as typically a larger amount of something will be cheaper than 2 smaller ones which add up to the same amount. And it's an inconvenience buying 2 when you can simply buy 1.
Free refills would only work if the place you are purchasing the drink from gives free refills. Which most of them do, however, I never understood why people actually pay extra for a large when free refills are available on the small to begin with.

This probably won't reduce obesity much, but I can see it definitely placing an inconvenice in front of people who want to drink a larger amount of soda. And maybe that inconvenice will slightly reduce the consumption of soda.

Still, it's definitely not the government's responsibility to be doing so. And this is going to have a negative impact on businesses for no good reason, and that's never a good thing.

What's somewhat ironic is
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 or convenience stores.
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Diet soda isn't all that healthy, although it doesn't directly cause obesity.
Milkshakes can cause obesity just as much as sodas can.
Alcohol can also cause obesity just as much as sodas can, and it's even more hazardous to your health.

And why would grocery stores and convenience stores be excluded? I can understand excluding 2L or 3L bottles since typically you don't drink the whole thing... but not banning a 20 fluid ounce bottle from a convenience store but banning the same amount from a restaurant makes no sense.
And furthermore, convenience stores actuall sell fountain drinks. It's literally the exact same thing as restaurants.
 
Of course it makes sense.

They can claim to be doing something to help your health without actually doing anything, and at the same time, remind you that they can take away anything from you at any time. It kills two birds with one stone.
 
Nicoleta01 said:
No, it means that people should take personal responsibility for being overweight. Instead of the government telling everyone (healthy and unhealthy) what they can and cannot have. Besides, you can just buy more, get free refills, etc.
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No they're not. They are essentially trying to nudge people into making a better decision, not telling them what they cannot have. They can still buy as much soda as they want, but only in smaller containers. In a nation where half the population is obese I think it's clearly obvious that people can't make this rational decision for themselves and take personal responsibility.
 
How people want to live is their own problem. We don't need Big Government holding our hand. If I want to go out and eat nothing but Taco Bell for the rest of my life, and have an extra large Coke every time, I should be able to enjoy that freedom. I am responsible for what happens to me.
 
The measure would not apply to diet sodas,
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If'n I remember correctly, don't diet sodas ruin your health more than regular sodas?
Oh, but they're "DIET" sodas, so they're clearly healthy :sweat:.

dairy-based drinks like milkshakes,
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Again, unhealthy for you, but ruled out because "IT'S GOT MILK IN IT AND MILK IS HEALTHY!!!11!1"

or alcoholic beverages;
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Normally I'd concede on this, citing the skyrocketing crime rate during Prohibition, but I've never heard of a 2-liter Budweiser, so it's kind of understandable. Then again, it is alchohol, and it does wreck your liver over time...

it would not extend to beverages sold in grocery or convenience stores.
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Wait, so a 32-oz cup/glass of cola from Burger King is too big, but a 2-liter bottle of it from Safeway is perfectly fine?
......dafuq?
 
It *might* help the dumber of the dumb cut some calories, the ones who don't realize that they can just buy two smaller drinks. It also might make some people think that "hey, a soda larger than my head probably isn't the best idea".

Honestly though, it's going down the wrong road. We have to make things healthier, not just ban buying large amounts of unhealthy things.
 
$aturn¥oshi said:
How people want to live is their own problem. We don't need Big Government holding our hand. If I want to go out and eat nothing but Taco Bell for the rest of my life, and have an extra large Coke every time, I should be able to enjoy that freedom. I am responsible for what happens to me.
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To play devil's advocate, higher heart disease rates from obesity do drive up health insurance costs, as well as take up tax payer funded emergency room space... So it really is everyone's problem in the long run. Not saying I don't agree with you, but it is a valid point that can't be ignored.
 
"First they came for the smokers..."

If this is a nudge, it won't be long before it becomes a shove.
 
Whether the New Yorkers are unhappy or not by the government stepping on their toes (oh woe is you, where's your freedom to drink sugar in bigger cups?), a number of people who don't hesitate to buy gallons of soda for cheap now surely won't buy several medium cups as the price would be higher. I do believe this would have to be extended to stores as well to play an impact. 0,5 litre bottles of soda cost about 2/3 of what a 1,5 litre bottle does where I live.
 
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