What do you think of a ban on larger size drinks?

[SeeIn2D]

So as people may or may not know outside of NYC, Mayor Mike Bloomberg is proposing a ban on larger sizes of sugary drinks in places like 7eleven and McDonalds. I personally absolutely agree with this. I think that if people are gonna be unhealthy and make choices that like get a free refill of the 2 liter hyper gulp or whatever they sell at 7eleven then they should be limited by the government. I also think that if people are gonna constantly have to go to the emergency room for heart attacks then the government who will usually be paying for it has a right to try to limit things like drink sizes.

 

[Verzin]

I have to agree. The 'large' size now is like...three times larger than it once was. Then take into account how easy it is to drink too much soda and just how BAD that crap is for you...
I kind of agree that the maximum size that should be served to a human being should be limited.

NOT HOW MUCH YOU CAN DRINK IF YOU WANT TO. If you really want to drink 3 liters a day (like I once did. that's your call buddy. enjoy your hospital bills if you keep that up too long.)

just the maximum size that establishments can serve to be drunk at one time.

EDIT: you can still get refills if you really want to drink 40-60oz.

 

[ClockworkPenguin]

I think any country that has an 'epidemic' of a lifestyle illness needs to take a long hard look at itself. (unfortunately that applies just as well to the UK, fattest country in Europe whoo!)

It is kind of obscene that so many of us are overweight when there are famines in other countries. It's hard to think of any solution to the problem, however, which doesn't infringe people's freedom.

 

[Riki Darnell]

So as people may or may not know outside of NYC, Mayor Mike Bloomberg is proposing a ban on larger sizes of sugary drinks in places like 7eleven and McDonalds. I personally absolutely agree with this. I think that if people are gonna be unhealthy and make choices that like get a free refill of the 2 liter hyper gulp or whatever they sell at 7eleven then they should be limited by the government. I also think that if people are gonna constantly have to go to the emergency room for heart attacks then the government who will usually be paying for it has a right to try to limit things like drink sizes.

Ah, I can see both sides of the argument. If I wanna become unhealthy it's certainly my right to do so and I don't think the government should regulate that. BUT I do think when it does involve them paying something should be done. Why not just make healthcare cost more for people who choose to be unhealthy or meet certain requirements? I mean car insurence is less for a good driver and more for an unsafe one (ppl getting tickets and wrecks). Idk how much normal health care pays tho. I've been on Tricare (I believe it is) my whole life.

 

[ElPatron]

I disagree with those regulations.

We just need conclusive evidence of the effects of high fructose corn syrup. If it's proven to be worse than regular sugar additives then the lobby must end.

 

[IamQ]

2 Liters? Do they really sell drinks that are Two liters?! How did it take so long for someone to even consider this ban?

I mean, what the hell? I think here in Sweden 0,5 liters is the largest we've got.

 

[Kordie]

I think either soda is bad, and it should be banned outright, or soda is ok and shouldn't be regulated. There is no law preventing you from buy 10 cartons of cigarettes or 50 bottles of whiskey. Further they don't limit the amout of soda you can purchase, just the size of the cup. People can still get 2 smaller ones if they want, or constant refills. The whole idea just doesn't make sense.

 

[Erana]

This is not okay. The government shouldn't be making peoples' decisions for them like this and wasting resources with all these regulations and what not. Sodas aren't some kind of volatile drug or weapon, Sodas are only one of many factors in American obesity problems, and there's really nothing stopping someone who wants to drink a lot of soda from drinking a lot of soda.

You know what's better? Education.
If you think that drinking less soda is an obvious good idea for a healthier lifestyle, you're overestimating the general population. My mother is an RD, and you wouldn't believe how often she has to explain concepts as basic as the fact that sea salt is not magic health salt that won't raise your sodium levels because commercials make it seem special.

It is kind of obscene that so many of us are overweight when there are famines in other countries.

Well, a huge part of this issue is that its cheaper to have an unhealthy diet, and people with less income are also going to have less health education than wealthier people. Someone working long hours with minimum wage isn't going to be as able or even know to spend over an hour in the kitchen preparing a healthy, home-cooked meal. Even if they are trying to make better diet choices and, say, order a salad, they very well may not know that the seemingly innocuous side of dressing they're putting on their greens has as many calories as the baked potato their salad replaced?

I'm not saying that world hunger isn't terrible, but a lot of Americans wind up being obese because of a bad social situation. Being healthy takes a lot of time, money and knowledge (and lucking out with genetics) that they simply don't have.

 

[Dags90]

I think either soda is bad, and it should be banned outright, or soda is ok and shouldn't be regulated. There is no law preventing you from buy 10 cartons of cigarettes or 50 bottles of whiskey. Further they don't limit the amout of soda you can purchase, just the size of the cup. People can still get 2 smaller ones if they want, or constant refills. The whole idea just doesn't make sense.

The thing about drinks that aren't resealable, like Big Gulps, is that they're rather explicitly designed to be finished in one sitting. It's like selling a 12 oz. can of vodka. We're also talking about a state that banned FourLoko because it had alcohol and caffeine.

Because if you're not, that's all just dramaqueening. It's only the largest size of a drink that's getting banned. Anyone healthy will never order such a thing to begin with and won't have the least of troubles from such bans.

Actually, he wants to ban anything above 16 oz. A Wendy's small is 16 oz.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

The government has no right regulating this. It is a slippery slope. You start with soda and before long we are only eating government mandated meals and nothing else.
Anyone who supports this obviously doesn't care much for personal freedom. Obesity is a problem but banning certain food items isn't the answer. You know why? Fat people will still find a way to keep being fat. If they aren't motivated to exercise and eat right now, banning soda won't help. You will have to ban all fast food, all donuts, all baked goods, everything.
Anyway, I am 100% opposed to this in any way shape or form. I am also against a tax on "unhealthy" foods.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

-SNIP of a big rant on free will-

Your reasoning has one rather large flaw.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FREE WILL.

'Ahem' let me rephrase that, 'free will' the complete freedom to do what you want is impossible in today's interconnected society for it will inevitably conflict with the choices and will of others. For example: Someone wishes to have a bonfire during their party in the middle of a complete fire ban. His wouldn't be able to proceed with his 'free will choice' due to the risks and cost it posed to the rest of society.

Of course you could argue with that your choice of a drink does't do squat to anyone else directly like a massive firestorm and you're correct. However indirectly you are with higher tax rates (or insurance premiums) needed for medical services struggling to cope with peoples 'choice' of being morbidly obese.

Our world has become so interconnected that YOUR choice will have an affect, especially combined with millions of others making the same decision. So yes the ban on gulp style servings will restrict your freedoms, but so did your parents/caregivers did by stopping you from running into oncoming traffic/sticking things into power sockets etc.

That does however raise the question of WHO's decision is correct i.e. Censorship and assorted 'Big Brother' style laws but that is for another thread.

 

[evilneko]

I think it is stupid and imposes undue burdens on both consumers and businesses for no real benefit.

That's pretty much it.

 

[BNguyen]

I think it's bullshit and anyone who supports such things shouldn't be allowed near a lawbook with anything capable of editing it.


First of all soda is NOT unhealthy. Drinking too much of it is what causes problems. This is the case with everything you can possibly drink. You can cause problems drinking too much water, too much milk, too much OJ. A can or two of coke a day is not going to make you fat, give you diabeetus, and burden the system.


Secondly, STAY THE FUCK OUT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES! The people are perfectly capable of making the healthy choice if they want to. They clearly don't. They clearly want to choose the tasty one instead. LET THEM!


Fucking hell...god I sound like a republican, but for fuck's sake people stop trying to run everyone else's lives! If I want a double gulp that fucker had best be 64oz. That's what I'm paying for, that's what a double gulp is, that's what I had best be getting. If the government thinks that's wrong oh well, they can go fuck themselves. My body my rules.

have to agree with you. I know there's an overweight problem in a lot of first world countries but it our right to choosing what to do with our lives. It's the same as one person imposing their will on 500 just because the 500 do something the one doesn't like or even do. Is the group doing something to their own bodies going to effect the apparent health nazis? No? Then stay out of it.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

This video sums up my thoughts on it quite nicely.

His description for that video is "Welcome to first world problems" which I think sums it up perfectly. This is not about gun control, or drugs, or fraud scandals. It's about people that want to buy a full litre of fizzy juice to drink with a single meal. And if people have so little self restraint that they can't resist doing so, worsening the obesity epidemic then I think there does come a point at which the government has to step in and say, if you're gonna do that, then it'll cost you more. Shell out for multiple small drinks or drink less.

Honestly I think they shouldn't ban it, just double the tax on it, or triple, whatever works.

 

[Yan007]

I disagree with those regulations.

We just need conclusive evidence of the effects of high fructose corn syrup. If it's proven to be worse than regular sugar additives then the lobby must end.

HFCS is not worse than regular sucrose. Both are extremely bad for you in the very same way.