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
If people want to drink obscene amounts of soda, they're going to drink obscene amounts of soda. It doesn't really matter what size the cup is. This ban is a waste of lawmakers' time and taxpayers' money.
Bring on the Nanny State! Lord knows I'm not capable of making such a decision myself. Thanks so much for looking after my best interests.
yes, let's waste precious city and state resources on a silly ban. who cares that most states have their employees on forced unpaid time off (in some cases 1 or more days a week) because we can't afford them, but gosh - we can afford to lobby up a storm about the size of sodas!
please. this isn't going to change anyone's habits except shoppers who will decide whether or not they want the state making decisions for them. oh wait, that seems like kind of a silly statement, right?
I would like to echo Michelle's comment. We need to change the culture we have created - drinking that much soda in one offereing is NOT normal anywhere but in the US. Maybe the free market is what makes our country so "great" but it's also why CNN is highlighting how passengers are now having to pay for 2 plane seats because they can't fit in one...
But damn. 2 people have already made the perfectly valid point that if they want to make a real difference, stop charging MORE for water/tea/lemonade or other healthier options. All this "ban" is doing is intefering with free enterprise.
And as for "who drinks that much, its gross" "who needs that much anyway"
Umm at least one of you need to shut up. You can justify shoving 40+dollars worth the red meat and booze down your gullet in your own mind somehow, but can't think its okay for someone else to spend on what THEY want? Stooooopid.
goverment don't ya love it. end sarcasm