Mayor Bloomberg's Battle Against Sugary Drinks

In my ideal world of convenience, no one would drink or smoke. Every restaurant in every city in every country in the world would cater to my vegetarian palate. No dairy. No tomatoes. No eggplant. I wouldn't have to worry about whether there were eggs in my pasta or sugar and milk in my bread. No more butter in my mashed potatoes. And the beverages would be spring water and green tea and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Miso soup would be available everywhere--and not the cheap powder type that tastes like garbage. I want the real thing--teaspoons of genuine miso that are lovingly added to the broth after it has been simmering so the precious enzymes don't die from the high temperature.

Unfortunately, I do not have the right to impose my rather demanding lifestyle on an unwilling population that doesn't share my values and beliefs. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City has a different perspective, however. In his effort to combat obesity, he wants to limit the intake of soda to a purchase of 16 fluid ounces.

While I personally can't stand soda, at least I feel safe in its presence because no one is forcing me to drink it against my will. This is not the case with cigarette smoke. I'm happy that restrictions have been placed on smoking because now I am less likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke.

The soda controversy was the lead story on the news at noon in New York. It was even discussed on The View. Here is what The New York Times had to say yesterday in an article by Michael M Grynbaum:

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.

I think that a better solution would be for the amount of sugar and the number of calories to be written in bold on every cup that these offensive beverages are being poured into. My libertarian leanings are uneasy about this approach as well, but at least the ability to choose won't be completely taken away from the consumer...or the seller.

 
WallStreetOasis.com:
THIS DRINK MAY LEAD YOU TO OBESITY WHICH WILL KILL YOU IN A VARIETY OF WAYS

I'd be happy with the above....but I dont think it should be illegal. Clearly, something needs to be done to educate / warn the masses about this shit. It's fucking this country with medical expenses...

Actually, I think it's the opposite. People who aren't obese live longer, and therefore cost more. Same with smokers: they die young. http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/03/22/alcohol-obesity-and-…

From an accounting perspective, dropping dead at 65 is optimal.

 
West Coast rainmaker:
WallStreetOasis.com:
THIS DRINK MAY LEAD YOU TO OBESITY WHICH WILL KILL YOU IN A VARIETY OF WAYS

I'd be happy with the above....but I dont think it should be illegal. Clearly, something needs to be done to educate / warn the masses about this shit. It's fucking this country with medical expenses...

Actually, I think it's the opposite. People who aren't obese live longer, and therefore cost more. Same with smokers: they die young. http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/03/22/alcohol-obesity-and-…

From an accounting perspective, dropping dead at 65 is optimal.

No. While they're alive....and while they're dying....they cost this country a FORTUNE. Depending on the study (and the interest group sponsoring it) it's in the hundreds of billions of dollars a year
Get busy living
 

Tax it. If people want government to provide services for them they should pay taxes when their actions cost others money.

Besides, the people who will be hit hardest by a sugar tax will be the poor, precisely those who can least afford habits that have health effects.

 
Best Response
UFOinsider:
TNA:
Tax it.
eyes popping out, doing double take

Why? I have to pay increased taxes for Medicaid which pays for health insurance for the poor. If I am forced to pay for their health insurance I should be able to control, or at the very least punish them for their bad behavior. Tax the shit out of smoking, sugary drinks, fast food, etc.

Taxes like these don't effect me any since it would be a tiny increase in my food budget. It would dissuade the poor though since food makes up a large % of their budget.

Same thing with schools. Parents in lower income areas that do not send their kids to school should be fined and arrested. They give birth to kids they cannot afford, make me pay for them through taxes and then not parent, thereby creating future criminals or net users of the system.

If you want to be free, be free, but don't expect me to give from my income without string attached.

 
<span class=keyword_link><a href=/company/trilantic-north-america>TNA</a></span>:
Tax it. If people want government to provide services for them they should pay taxes when their actions cost others money.

Besides, the people who will be hit hardest by a sugar tax will be the poor, precisely those who can least afford habits that have health effects.

Out of all the solutions, I tend to agree with this one the most. Basically anything that indirectly leads to a cost for the government should have a tax associated with it.

 
hdavid57:

Unfortunately, I do not have the right to impose my rather demanding lifestyle on an unwilling population that doesn't share my values and beliefs. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City has a different perspective, however. In his effort to combat obesity, he wants to limit the intake of soda to a purchase of 16 fluid ounces.

The people of NYC voted for that guy 3 times, so I am pretty sure that his demanding lifestyle matches their expectations. If it a very important matter to the people of NYC they would have started a petition to remove of office, clearly they are not doing it, so they must be OK with him doing whatever he is doing.

If a government (elected by the people) believes something is out of hand, it should act; I think this is the most republican act- elected officials to act in absence of a poll (elections). If what he is doing is legal, so be it. If people don't like it, they should vote him out.

 

Why not just ban everything bad? Kill sky diving, bungie jumping, driving after 10pm, drinking alcohol, chocolate, etc.

When does it stop? What's the next enjoyable thing to be taken because of those who do in excess through their own lack of self-control?

You know what causes obesity? Eating more than you're burning in calories.

hdavid57:
My libertarian leanings are uneasy about this approach as well, but at least the ability to choose won't be completely taken away from the consumer...or the seller.

It's absurd that we even have to call an opposition to a soda ban, "libertarian."

 

I empathize with Bloomberg's intentions, but an outright ban on large sodas is completely ridiculous. I agree with the suggestions above stating that we could make the sugar content more easily identifiable or just tax the hell out of it. But an outright ban is just stupid and violates our rights as consumers. Not to mention this would be so easy to get around. Just buy two 12-ounce sodas (in separate transactions if you have to).

 

The US has a disease management, and not a health management system. Until that perspective shifts on a wider level, expenses and misery will continue to skyrocket. Some companies, Kaiser for example, are leading the way but they're facing a lot of momentum and little political support.

Get busy living
 

The Mayor is on to something. Mr. Mayor, I stare at your Bloomberg terminal at least 8 hours per day. This can't be good for me. Why not pass a law limiting viewing to 3 hours and with that, cut your fee from $2500 per month to $1000??

 

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