Imagine, if you will, that you're at the movie theater and want to split one of those giant sodas with your date. Only you can't! Or it's a hot day at a sports arena and you want to grab one of those big sports drinks. Only you can't! This could soon be the world that New Yorkers inhabit as the city's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, wants to ban the sale of ultra large, sugary drinks. Gulp. Big Gulp!
I guess this isn't entirely surprising. Bloomberg is a health fanatic who has forced some of his healthful ways on the city. He banned smoking in most public places and has added lots of bike lanes, trying to encourage New Yorkers to exercise more. As for sodas, they definitely contribute to the country's obesity problem. So, I can see why huge sugary drinks wouldn't go down sweetly with Bloomie.
But while ban would include sodas, sports drinks, and pre-sweetened ice teas, it would not include some equally unhealthy drinks like alcohol, milkshakes, diet sodas, or fruit juices. Which is pretty unfair to the Big Gulps, Slurpees, and titanic sodas, when you think about it. Why ban one group and not the other?
Also the ban would not include large sugary drinks sold in grocery stores. Just those poured in restaurants and movie theaters and sports arenas. And what is to stop someone from buying two or three smaller-sized sodas? Nothing.
So ... what kind of impact on obesity can this law actually HAVE? I'd say not much. Not much at all. But Bloomberg probably doesn't really care about that. He's just trying to make a point. In this case, however, the main point he's making is that he's totally earned his nickname, "Emperor Bloomberg."
Do you think big sodas should be banned?
Image via section215/ Flickr
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Comments 24
This is a silly ban.
The number one reason I choose a Big Gulp (which I dont very often because thats waaay too much soda for me) over a bottle of water is because the Big Gulp is 99 cents and the water is nearly $2 for 1/3 the amount.
No they shouldn't be banned. You can't force people into a healthy lifestyle. They will either order lots of refills or as you stated, buy several small drinks. Once to twice a month I treat myself to a 32 oz fountain pop at a gas station & usually caffeine free. It's a treat to me & I would be sad without it!!
If he really wants to ban something unhealthy he should ban artificial sweeteners like those in diet soda. That is what is really bad for you. From what I see is there are people who drink loads of diet soda a day and are not only taking in all that artificial crap that is bad for you, and most of the people drinking diet are overweight. Most of the skinny people including me treat themselves to a regular soda every once in a while and are a healthy weight. I don't think most people know that artificial sweetners are making them hold onto the weight and think just because they are not taking in calories then they can drink it like water.
Well, here's the way I look at it.
How can those sized drinks even exist. My DH and I can't even share a normal sized soda at Burger King and finish it....its just too sweet for us, coupled with the saltiness of everything else we ate......so, how ppl can be big on these big drinks I'll never know.
But as far as the ban, I don't think it really solves anything. The dude wants a ton of soda, he's going to get a ton of soda.....a ban on a particular size isn't going to prevent anything.
Just saying that around here, if you eat in, the refills are free. So it would only affect the drive-through customers. Not really sure if Mayor Bloomberg will accomplish anything other than to tick people off.
all I can say is "when did it become OK for others to tell ME how to live? If I want to drink those, smoke or even eat a certain way then LET ME/THEM DO IT... Ever hear of the "Darwin theory"? They will be ok or die eventually so let em... lord so much for The land of the FREE...