proposed NYC soda ban

[Duke87 1,070]

Story

Basically, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. (but not grocery stores) will be prohibited from selling sodas in sizes larger than 16 ounces. So, no more medium or large drinks at McDonalds.

Diet sodas and sodas containing less than 25 calories per 8 ounces are (logically) excluded but somehow I don't see establishments saying "well, you can get a large, but only of certain drinks". They're all going to just pull the large from the menu.

I've long said that San Francisco is the most absurd city in North America, but sadly as time goes by it seems my own hometown is trying to play catchup...

[CaptCity 4,932]

I saw this and immediately thought "you've got to be kidding me..." But, being the conspiracy theorist that I am, I saw where the restaurants, fast-food places, etc. might actually go for this. The 16oz size would become the new "large", offered at the current "large" price, of course - thereby making even more profit and being able to blame the government.

Hopefully, this is just a little "tongue-in-check" humor...

[Sgt Pepper 864]

Michael Bloomberg continues to fascinate me with this stupidity.

The New York City Health Department's unhealthy obsession with attacking soft drinks is again pushing them over the top. The city is not going to address the obesity issue by attacking soda because soda is not driving the obesity rates.

Clever.

  Edited June 1, 2012 by Sgt Pepper  

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Seattle is San Fran lite but the suburbs were able to cancel a steep tax on bottled beverages enacted because lobbyists from Seattle.

[Haljackey 17,405]

I think Ron Swanson says it best:

http://youtu.be/qlU5-LQ_EGE

[Easy Bakes 253]

I saw this and immediately thought "you've got to be kidding me..." But, being the conspiracy theorist that I am, I saw where the restaurants, fast-food places, etc. might actually go for this. The 16oz size would become the new "large", offered at the current "large" price, of course - thereby making even more profit and being able to blame the government.

Hopefully, this is just a little "tongue-in-check" humor...

Actually Mc Donald's has already jumped the gun on this a little bit.

All their sodas are $1.00 regardless of size.

And as i know a little about how McD's operates i guarantee they did their research and

are making a lot more on soda sales now then when a X-Large was $2.25.

[Ceafus 88 1,929]

This has got to be the dumbest thing since idk when, this is a top one for sure.

[airman15 4,113]

What kind of idiotic proposal is this? I mean whats next- it's illegal to carry more than two raw fish while walking down the street?

Granted, one can see where someone who favors healthy incentives would view this as a beneficial law to curb obesity. This argument can serve as a decent motive to instate this law as obesity and other diet-related health problems are a big national problem. But the decisions made for healthy or junk food is a personal responsibility and therefore a law that requires enforcement is not necessary. Even if they do instate this law, it would only be repeating the same mistakes as prohibition in the 1920s. If anything, this is just another stupid law for cops who have nothing to do in the first place bust people for the most trivial occurrences...

EDITS: Proofreading and strengthening my view on this matter.

  Edited June 2, 2012 by usfighter15  

[Meg 368]

If anything, this is just another stupid law for cops who have nothing to do in the first place bust people for the most trivial occurrences...

The cops have plenty to do and this isn't their idea. It is a politician's.

The general approach might have some merit but I think this is a bad implementation.

A few years ago, I believe it was New York city, decided to ban trans fats. There were two basic initial reactions: "I don't want the government making laws like this" and "What the heck is a trans fat?"

It brought trans fat to the public awareness and now people generally don't want them and seek out foods that don't have them. The total amount of trans fat in our food has decreased considerably. Which is a good thing. There is no need to ban something that people don't want to eat in the first place. The issue is whether or not people know what they are eating.

Was it necessary to have a law? Is that what it takes to get the public's attention?

Look at the more recent case of "pink slime". As soon as some jurisdictions heard of it, they wanted to ban it. As soon as many people heard of it, they didn't want to have anything to do with eating it. Most of us have eaten it and lived to tell the tale but it sounds disgusting.

I doubt this approach will work with sugar. Everyone knows what sugar it, they know that too much is bad for you, and sugar doesn't have a gross-out factor the way pink slime does.

(Personally, I never understood the appeal of a super-sized soda. By the time you finish it all, it' warm and flat and who wants to drink it anyway? but that's beside the point.)

I'm all for making people aware of things so they can make an informed decision. Unfortunately, proposing a law seems to the most effective way of getting people's attention.

[Duke87 1,070]

Murmur from a friend has it that this proposal is just a political stunt, not something serious. It's worth noting that Bloomberg had previously tried to add a tax to soda, and also tried to limit people's ability to buy soda with food stamps. But Albany wouldn't let him do either. This, meanwhile, is something more rash but also something he can do without the state's permission. In other words, he's trying to get Albany to let him do one of the previous two things.

It was indeed New York City that banned trans fats, although in that case it just forced restaurants to switch up their cooking oil. Nothing really changed on the surface and no customers were inconvenienced. Some foods just got slightly less unhealthy. Limiting the size of sodas would be a far more visible restriction and a cause of actual bother to the general public.

As for "pink slime", I don't get the fuss. Manufacturing sausage is pretty gross to look at too, but that doesn't stop people from eating it. And it's not like pink slime is in any way poisonous or unhealthy (well, not more unhealthy than "the real thing" anyway), so, so long as it tastes good, why does it matter?

All this whole thing does is allow me to sit there and munch on chicken mcnuggets while grinning and saying "mmmm.... pink slime", and then take pleasure out of watching people squirm.

  Edited June 2, 2012 by Duke87  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Murmur from a friend has it that this proposal is just a political stunt, not something serious. It's worth noting that Bloomberg had previously tried to add a tax to soda, and also tried to limit people's ability to buy soda with food stamps. But Albany wouldn't let him do either. This, meanwhile, is something more rash but also something he can do without the state's permission. In other words, he's trying to get Albany to let him do one of the previous two things.

It was indeed New York City that banned trans fats, although in that case it just forced restaurants to switch up their cooking oil. Nothing really changed on the surface and no customers were inconvenienced. Some foods just got slightly less unhealthy. Limiting the size of sodas would be a far more visible restriction and a cause of actual bother to the general public.

As for "pink slime", I don't get the fuss. Manufacturing sausage is pretty gross to look at too, but that doesn't stop people from eating it. And it's not like pink slime is in any way poisonous or unhealthy (well, not more unhealthy than "the real thing" anyway), so, so long as it tastes good, why does it matter?

All this whole thing does is allow me to sit there and munch on chicken mcnuggets while grinning and saying "mmmm.... pink slime", and then take pleasure out of watching people squirm.

I think its awesome that small town like Albany can tell NYC what to do in some cases.

does Mc D's in NY have the 1.00 sodas too or is that just down here?

  Edited June 2, 2012 by Easy Bakes  

[Ocram's Razr 964]

That sounds like usage of the Overton Window method. Preventing the usage of food stamps for junk food is a wonderful idea!

[The Avatar 1,089]

First he bans feeding the homeless, and now this... Oh, Bloomberg, you healthy food nazi.

I acknowledge that America has an obesity problem, and eating healthily is important, but this is rediculous.

[BIWDC 2,296]

Hmm this would make my dad happy,not me though.

[airman15 4,113]

The cops have plenty to do and this isn't their idea. It is a politician's.

I must have been rambling at this point.. But the town I live in usually sends four squad cars for patrolling the streets. In some cases I have seen at least two of those cruisers are sent in to break up a public fistfight.

There are, however laws that have actually been passed in states that are just outrageous to begin with. Fortunately, some of these aren't even enforced anyway because of their stupidity..

(I checked some of the laws in the link and most of them really exist)

The general approach might have some merit but I think this is a bad implementation.

A few years ago, I believe it was New York city, decided to ban trans fats. There were two basic initial reactions: "I don't want the government making laws like this" and "What the heck is a trans fat?"

It brought trans fat to the public awareness and now people generally don't want them and seek out foods that don't have them. The total amount of trans fat in our food has decreased considerably. Which is a good thing. There is no need to ban something that people don't want to eat in the first place. The issue is whether or not people know what they are eating.

Was it necessary to have a law? Is that what it takes to get the public's attention?

Look at the more recent case of "pink slime". As soon as some jurisdictions heard of it, they wanted to ban it. As soon as many people heard of it, they didn't want to have anything to do with eating it. Most of us have eaten it and lived to tell the tale but it sounds disgusting.

I doubt this approach will work with sugar. Everyone knows what sugar it, they know that too much is bad for you, and sugar doesn't have a gross-out factor the way pink slime does.

I hear most schools implement health class which explains the dangers of poor diet (I took a class like this and the teacher even made us watch the documentary Supersize Me. I was even put on an athletic diet; which forbid intake of junk food except for one weekly cheat day. But this was based on my own experiences and I am aware not many people don't take the time to actually realize why junk food is bad. Part of the problem I believe rests on people not taking the time to find healthy alternatives and in other cases junk food is cheaper than healthy food, and 9 times out of 10 people will want to find a way to save money.

(Personally, I never understood the appeal of a super-sized soda. By the time you finish it all, it' warm and flat and who wants to drink it anyway? but that's beside the point.)

I'm all for making people aware of things so they can make an informed decision. Unfortunately, proposing a law seems to the most effective way of getting people's attention.

I agree with this statement, I don't believe proposed laws should be the only way to raise awareness. I think it would make more sense if Mr. Bloomberg requested his public school system to show why soda is bad for you and why it would be a better idea to switch over to organic products (or other); whether he asks the schools to put up posters, show a documentary to raise awareness or even put on an assembly (since they already do something like this to prevent smoking or suicide). Politicians shouldn't have to take extreme measures to raise awareness.

[RipRap 4,400]

A terrible idea... We have a responsibility to drink sugary drinks in moderation.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Mr. Bloomberg deserves the title 'Der Furiouser'. He is acting like a tin-pot version of Mussolini in his early years. I wonder when the cops will get new night sticks with a little ax in the top (fasces).

When I worked for MacDonald's the manager admitted to me that their largest margin was the soft drinks. These are made from water carbonated on the site and a little squirt of syrup from the vendor, in this case The Coca Cola company. Ever wonder why they don't charge for refills? It would be against anyone's conscience.

[Duke87 1,070]

I think it would make more sense if Mr. Bloomberg requested his public school system to show why soda is bad for you and why it would be a better idea to switch over to organic products (or other); whether he asks the schools to put up posters, show a documentary to raise awareness or even put on an assembly (since they already do something like this to prevent smoking or suicide). Politicians shouldn't have to take extreme measures to raise awareness.

There has been a significant PSA campaign going on for a while now...

Other ads also target burgers and fries. (and of course each has a Spanish version as well)

  Edited June 2, 2012 by Duke87  

[airman15 4,113]

^This is exactly what I was thinking. Now if they were to step up awareness, they should place these ads in more locations like billboards, subways, busses, etc. Implementing TV commercials of the health awareness should also be able to work.

[hym 358]

A few years ago, I believe it was New York city, decided to ban trans fats. There were two basic initial reactions: "I don't want the government making laws like this" and "What the heck is a trans fat?"

It brought trans fat to the public awareness and now people generally don't want them and seek out foods that don't have them. The total amount of trans fat in our food has decreased considerably. Which is a good thing. There is no need to ban something that people don't want to eat in the first place. The issue is whether or not people know what they are eating.

I'm going to question whether people actually look for foods that don't have trans fats. I can't even begin to remember the number of food items that I have picked up that had some label or sticker or whatever that said something along the lines of "We know you're trying to be healthy. That's why this product has no trans fats!" and my reaction in almost every case is something similar to "Really? Because I totally cared whether this product had trans fats or not!"

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Well, the Seattle Public School system banned soda-pop from its premises and started selling various flavors of milk and juice as well as water.

[airman15 4,113]

Well, the Seattle Public School system banned soda-pop from its premises and started selling various flavors of milk and juice as well as water.

My school sells only Water, Powerade/Gaterade, Milk and Juice. There is, however a Starbucks and CVS next to us that sells Coffee and a variety of energy drinks yet the school doesn't care if that stuff reaches campus.

[Meg 368]

my reaction in almost every case is something similar to "Really? Because I totally cared whether this product had trans fats or not!"

Ah, the invulnerability of youth. Let's see how you feel about it 30 years from now.

[raja_indy14 8]

I hear most schools implement health class which explains the dangers of poor diet (I took a class like this and the teacher even made us watch the documentary Supersize Me. I was even put on an athletic diet; which forbid intake of junk food except for one weekly cheat day. But this was based on my own experiences and I am aware not many people don't take the time to actually realize why junk food is bad. Part of the problem I believe rests on people not taking the time to find healthy alternatives and in other cases junk food is cheaper than healthy food, and 9 times out of 10 people will want to find a way to save money.

I live on my own and do all my own grocery shopping, and I can assure you that making your meals at home is almost always cheaper than eating out at a fast food joint or purchasing heavily processed junk/prepared foods. The real reason people choose it over home-cooked meals stems from its convenience and its addictive/pleasurable properties.

This article explains in more detail.

I tend to only eat at fast food restaurants when I'm inebriated (although in those situations I can binge horribly). Where I live there are any number of ethnic restaurants where one can get much healthier, tastier food for comparable prices.

[Duke87 1,070]

^This is exactly what I was thinking. Now if they were to step up awareness, they should place these ads in more locations like billboards, subways, busses, etc. Implementing TV commercials of the health awareness should also be able to work.

Dunno about TV since I don't watch it, but they're already plastered all over the subway.

Well, the Seattle Public School system banned soda-pop from its premises and started selling various flavors of milk and juice as well as water.

What age groups are we talking about here? The cafeteria food where I went to school had a separate model for the high schools as it did for the elementary and middle schools. K-8, you had pre-prepared lunches as a single unit - the drinks were milk and juice, and the food was various bits of low-grade but theoretically healthy cafeteria food. In the high schools, however, the cafeteria operated more like a snack bar and they were mostly selling burgers, fries, and pizza along with sodas.

This model seems ideal to me - with young kids it makes sense to watch things a bit more, but when you get to the older kids it starts to become an insult to tell them what they can and can't eat.

One other thing I wonder about - when you say Seattle "banned soda from the premises", does that mean kids aren't allowed to bring them from home, either? Because that's an overstep right there. It's one thing if the school doesn't want to provide them, it's another entirely if they're overriding parental discretion.

Of course, I come from the personal perspective where I don't totally get the fuss over not letting kids have soda since my parents were never so restrictive with me. My mother did at one point start regulating how much soda I was allowed to drink in a day when she felt I was starting to drink too much, but at no point in my life was I ever outright not allowed to have it.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Selling soda-pop and candy are not allowed, not even by students. Bake sales are regulated. French fries are baked with little fat.

[matheuspaulo 62]

A completely facist act. if Bloomberg were one of that milion people who have problems with obesity and junk food, would have him like of this law ?

He dont need be a genius to know that this isnt best way to resolve that problems.

[BIWDC 2,296]

When I worked for MacDonald's the manager admitted to me that their largest margin was the soft drinks. These are made from water carbonated on the site and a little squirt of syrup from the vendor, in this case The Coca Cola company. Ever wonder why they don't charge for refills? It would be against anyone's conscience.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At the Mcdonald's I work at we go through sweet tea like it is going out of style.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

Iced tea was one of the dispenser items at my MacDonald's, but the box of syrup that got changed most often was Diet Coke. No sugar, just a dose of aspartame, which is also not wonderful for you.

[Larks2242 251]

Michael Bloomberg continues to fascinate me with this stupidity.

It boggles the mind how he keeps getting reelected, How can you go from a man like Rudy Giuliani to a man like Bloomberg?