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

[runic knight]

This is stupid on so many levels.

1st, this is the government taking a stance that they seem very hesitant to elsewhere. That stance is, to regulate its citizen's health. Now, if this was part of a program to encourage health across the board, not just stupid portion size limits but also actually addressing issues such as lack of education on the matter and helping those with poor health, then I could at least find some understanding for it. Right now though, the government cares very little about the health and well being of its citizens, as portrayed by the general "take care of yourself" stance on health care. Seems like it is picking a small battle for the sake of doing something with this.

This brings me to point number 2, this is pointless ineffectual ploy to appear like they are doing something. This doesn't stop people from drinking less. This increases the cost of the product since more containers will be needed. When you account for refills and the like, this comes off as completely pointless, a waste of time and money.

And that brings us to point 3, this is a pointless waste of time and money that infringes on liberty. Say what you will about it, liberty is damned important, and like it or not, one important aspect of liberty requires stupid people make stupid choices. Now, I understand when it comes to aspects of protecting other people from their stupidity (hence speed limits, permits for things, etc.), and for protecting people from overtly and possibly immediately destructive things (hard drugs, requiring safety procedures for things). But this is saying that people can still have what they want, in the ammount they want, so long as it is 2 cups instead of one. How utterly worhtless and wasteful

Finally, the 4th point, it is wasteful. Not just on the money and cost to have more cups, and wasteful to the price of the soda (that tends to stay kinda the same of late, regardless of size, therefore reducing the value of people buying it), but it will increase pollution from people ditching the cups. small, I know, but still.


All in all, I see no real justification for this action. It is ineffectual, it is hypocritical of the government, it is wasteful of time in legislature and money for all involved, it is anti-liberty without reason beyond outright insulting people as being too stupid to make healthy choices or smaller portions on their own (a little funny, as the time and money spent on educating people would do far more good then this law), and it just makes more pollution.


so....what is the point? To look like they are doing something?

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

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.

The evidence already exists. It's why most countries don't use HFCS in their products.

Banning the large is as amusing as it is pointless, just buy two mediums instead.

 

[runic knight]

Really, no one has the right to bring this into law. it infringes on the people's rights.

Now. All we need to do is vote in ron paul for president, and all will be restored.

I... do hope you aren't serious about that last bit. You know, since Ron Paul is kinda really against people's rights, if the people are gay or a pregnant woman and all.

 

[EclipseoftheDarkSun]

If you want total freedom to act completely short-sightedly with regards to your own health, then you should have total freedom to pay _entirely_for your _own_ healthcare . That's my opinion. Otherwise you're trying to have it all and basically screw over everyone else.

Those who are willing to restrain themselves or seek help to do so, should basically buy into communal healthcare.

It's a shame noone invented a fishbowl hat for smokers...

 

[SomeBrianDude]

Banning a certain quantity of juice from being sold just isn't the answer. For a start, it infringes on civil liberties in a huge way. If someone wants 2 litres of fizzy juice in one portion, why shouldn't they have it? What is implied here is that New Yorkers just can't be trusted to chose an appropriate beverage size, and, if that is the case, then a portion of the blame for that can be levelled at the people proposing this ban for not making the materials through which people can make an informed choice readily available to the public.

What's happening here is that the real issue is being glossed over - that some people don't know drinking that much soda just isn't healthy. Either that, or they just don't care. Putting health warnings on the cups, or forcing the shops selling them to better inform consumers about potential health risks would be a far better route to take. The role of government in cases like this should never be to dictate, rather to educate. When bans are being considered then government has failed in this duty.

Personally, I have no idea how people can stomach 2 litres of soda in one portion. I stopped drinking carbonated soft drinks a few months ago, and it's one of the best decisions I've made recently. I sleep better, have more energy, and generally feel much better. I don't know whether it's because of the reduced caffeine or sugar intake (or both), but something in that stuff just made me feel like shit.

 

[EclipseoftheDarkSun]

Christ, reading some of the posts in this thread makes it seem like the government is going to come to your house to beat you if you drink a certain amount of soda.

Stop spouting such hysterical garbage. You'd still be able to drink the same amount of soda, you just have to pay more for it.

Yeah! Why would anyone complain about paying more for the same amount of something? It's madness! Why, next you'd suggest people would complain about gasoline costing over $3.50 a gallon when previously gasoline over $2.00 a gallon was considered a rip-off!

Spoiler

I'd also like to point out that I don't even support the damn thing.

Reading your post makes it seem like you think it wouldn't be so bad for the government to arbitrarily step in and regulate something so banal as soft drinks, because all you'd have to do was pay more for the same amount of something.

That's the reason why I don't support it. It's trivial. It amounts to nothing either way. Funding an awareness campaign would be far more effective.

I'm just annoyed that some people think that banning massively unhealthy soft-drink sizes would be an enormous blow to their freedoms, and that it would lead to a slippery slope of regulations telling you what you can or can't put in your body.

Yep, waaah waaah waaah. Grow up I say and realise that your personal 'freedoms' are not equally important. Everyone has to sacrifice some degree of freedom in a mutually beneficial society where our actions affect others. Your real freedoms are freedom of thought, freedom to vote the way you want, freedom of movement and a number of others. Freedom to burden the health system because you have no self control, doesn't really rank up there. Whining about absolute freedom is for two year olds..

 

[ecoho]

this is by far the DUMBEST thing a politician has ever done.(and thats saying something)
ok for all you who think this needs to be done let me explaine a few things:

1. it wont work people will just buy 2 of the smaller sizes. lets face it if someone wants 64oz's of soda they are gonna get it ether by buying two of the smaller ones or just going to walmart and picking up a 2 liter.

2. if the government can do this whats to stop them from saying you cant smoke, eat red meat, or drink?

for those of you who think number 2 isnt bad and should be done please go watch "Escape from LA" yeah thats were this shits heading.

 

[Nemesis729]

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.

No

While I'm not going to say that your opinion/The way that you think is wrong... It's kind of awful. Are you really fine with the government limiting the size of drinks people are allowed to order in convenience stores? People being unhealthy shouldn't give the government the right to chuck pointless restrictions on everything just to make i look like they're doing something.

First it's what size soda they can sell in stores, Watch where it goes from there.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

Something needs to be done about people and their fizzy drinks, just not necessarily this.

This is a nice little picture everybody should take into account.

This is. I want the 40 oz fucking cup because I want more fucking pop AT A LOWER GODDAMN PRICE!!!

So you would gladly drink 6 creme eggs worth of sugar, about four times the recommended amount, because you are stingy as hell?



Have fun with your diabetes man.

 

[TehCookie]

This is. I want the 40 oz fucking cup because I want more fucking pop AT A LOWER GODDAMN PRICE!!!

So you would gladly drink 6 creme eggs worth of sugar, about four times the recommended amount, because you are stingy as hell?

Have fun with your diabetes man.

You don't have to drink it all at once, there's a lovely invention called a fridge. I buy the large sizes all the time and it takes me 3 days to finish one. Yes I am stingy as hell.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

snip

It's a shame a lot of people seem to have ignored your wall of text. This thread is full of people who just seem to be going "I LIKE SODA AND I'M FINE SO SHUT UP!" It's sad really when it probably is the number 1 health risk when it comes to food and drink. Diabetes, heart disease, obesity, the absolutely ridiculous amounts of sugar you get in even small cups of these drinks is dangerous.

People who drink just one 12-oz. serving of soda or other sweetened soft drinks each day have a 15 percent higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes, and those who drink two servings increase their risk by 26 percent, according to an analysis of data from 11 studies performed by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and published in the November 2010 issue of the journal "Diabetes Care."

 

[Chairman Miaow]

This is. I want the 40 oz fucking cup because I want more fucking pop AT A LOWER GODDAMN PRICE!!!

So you would gladly drink 6 creme eggs worth of sugar, about four times the recommended amount, because you are stingy as hell?

Have fun with your diabetes man.

You don't have to drink it all at once, there's a lovely invention called a fridge. I buy the large sizes all the time and it takes me 3 days to finish one. Yes I am stingy as hell.

Then go to a store and buy them, not a fast food place. and you put cups in your fridge? Seems like an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

First it's what size soda they can sell in stores, Watch where it goes from there.

Absolutely nowhere? At worst, limiting the amount of fries you can get with your meal. Your slippery slope scaremongering helps nobody.

 

[R0cklobster]

I don't think it's a particularly good idea. Surely there must be a better way of tackling this issue without outright banning large drink sizes, even to those who aren't morbidly obese or overweight?

 

[Chairman Miaow]

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.

Excuse me but raising taxes on anything in the market is the same as the government imposing its will onto the people, and this is flat out wrong. By loosening the reigns of the government you are effectively allowing them to start pushing into other aspects of your life.
For example:
You have free time? Well, we get to tax you for every hour that you're not adding something productive to society? - say goodbye to art, music, sports, recreation in general.
Did not meet your quota for contributing? We need to tax you for how much you failed to add.
They will increase your 'fair share' and make sure someone with a whip or stun rod will watch over you every second of the day.
Fail to contribute enough of your hard-earned money to pay for government paychecks? Well you go to prison.

What I have a problem with this is that there are some people who will support these ludicrous types of control.

Because increasing tax on unhealthy food to encourage a better lifestyle will definitely lead to taxing free time. You are teh supa-genius.

 

[Dimitriov]

It's just stupid. In oh so many ways.

For one thing, since I haven't seen anyone mention it in this thread, the law doesn't affect convenience stores anyway. So you can still go buy a double gulp at 7 eleven.

And of course the obvious refills problem. And oh yeah, what about all the pop people drink at home? You know, what probably makes up the majority of soda consumption? You can still go buy a big ass bottle at the grocery store, then go home and drink it... or pour the damn thing into your own cup and walk around town.

Okay these are the reasons why it is stupid due to pointlessness. Now for the reasons why it's stupid as a precedent.

If a mayor can do this?

- you can no longer buy more than 2oz of fish at a restaurant in a single serving. Why? Because of mercury levels.
- You can't buy double shot mixed drinks at the bar, because consuming alcohol too quickly is dangerous.
- You can longer order anything larger than a 6oz steak.
- No buying a large popcorn bag at the theater. You were going to share it? Too bad, you must now buy two smaller bags.
- etc. etc.

And these are just the direct extrapolations of serving size related issues at restaurants and so forth. It could in theory go farther.

PS: and seriously, this thread just reaffirms it, what is with so many of you Europeans and your enjoyment of being bossed around? It's like you all have a submissiveness fetish

... oh, as long as you agree with it that is. If the government wants to reduce spending or oversee currency and banking (presumably for the economic good of the country) then god forbid

Disclaimer: I am not saying I know that YOUR government is making appropriate decisions. Nor do I personally go around drinking 64oz soda cups.

 

[AstylahAthrys]

No. No, no, no. Stay out of our lives, Government. I don't even drink soda (I'm a water and tea kind of girl), but I am completely against this. Maybe if they were paying for our health care, they would have a say, but guess what? They're not. Not they're problem if we're fat.

 

[VanTesla]

Pop in general is bad for you so I rarely drink it. I think its stepping on peoples rights, but people are stupid and don't know or care what they put in their mouths... Honestly think if they ban that then they should keep going and ban cigarettes and alcohol...

Those two I mentioned are far more dangerous to a persons health and a danger to other people that are around it... I never read or hear of a jug of pop making a person cause car accidents or giving cancer to other people that are around a user for years...

 

[spectrenihlus]

Any argument where a point can be used for and against it , namely the fact that if you want more than you buy another one, is a stupid fucking argument. Banning large sodas isn't going to do anything therefore you shouldn't do it.

 

[chiggerwood]

This is just snobbery, stupidity, and overreach all rolled into one. I hate bans like this, the powers that be already have way too much power, the last thing I want them to have is more, especially when it comes to what can and cannot be sold. Things like this, and people who support it piss me off. No one should have the right to dictate what others can consume. As long as the person in question is taking care of what needs to and not harming anyone I have no problem. What I do have a problem with is people who think THEY know better than others, and think that THEY must stop the ignorant hordes from hurting themselves. FUCK THAT!