A few days ago as I was watching Glee, I noticed one of the characters holding a super size soda cup. Whether or not it was coincidental, it reminded me of the recent ban that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg placed on super size soda drinks in New York City. According to Michael M. Grynbaum, a writer for the New York Times, the ban "which bars the sale of many sweetened drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces, is to take effect on March 12." Personally, I do not think that this is a particularly fair ban to place. Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, but I am not sure banning a soda size will really help. Even though there is a serious obesity problem in the United States, is it the government's job to tell people what they can and cannot consume? I think it should be a person's own decision and should not be influenced by anyone else. It is true that drinking a lot of soda increases risks of obesity, but just because the super size cup is going to be taken away, does not mean that America's obesity problem will just disappear. On the other hand, if it ends up going well, then it could be a wake up call to many Americans to start making healthy choices. I am very curious to see how big of an influence the ban ends up having. I commend Mayor Michael Bloomberg for his efforts regarding the health of Americans, but I wonder is where it is headed next...a ban on french fries? Bic macs? Candy?It is more important that the government educates Americans about the importance of keeping a balanced diet and exercising, so that they are able to make their own healthy choices. Do you think that this ban is a fair one to place? Will it be helpful in improving the health of Americans?
To read more about the ban click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/nyregion/health-board-approves-bloombergs-soda-ban.html?_r=0
Lily, this is a very interesting topic you bring up. I personally agree about questioning whether this ban would actually help. I also read a related article talking about how it really is all about "you are what you eat," no matter how much of something you consume. So would the ban actually help in the end? When it all comes down to it, people could just end up getting numerous refills on a sugary drink.
ReplyDeleteI also do not really mind that the ban has taken place because super sized containers did not have to exist in the first place. I think one of the reasons it was even invented was for the convenience of the consumer, they would not have to keep walking up to the fountain drink machine to refill their beverage. In doing so, this "convenience" has lead to laziness which has ultimately contributed to obesity.
It may help with the health of Americans because some may realize that they do not have to be drinking as much of a soft drink as they think. When they reach the bottom of the cup, they are done. I think it is very important for the government to educate before banning because some people may not even realize the health issues they could possibly have by overeating unhealthy foods. Thanks for the great read!
I agree that the banning of super sized drinks could be stepping into peoples personal decisions on their health, although I do see a purpose in the banning that could benefit the American people. I find it a little crazy that 2 out of 3 people in America are either obese or overweight. The government is now stepping in and looking for a way to improve these statistics. It's easy to see why the mayor chose to limit the amount of soda consumed because it has been identified as a direct source of obesity because of its average of 17 teaspoons of sugar in every 20-ounce serving. I think maybe the Mayor mainly wanted to get the point across that soda can be a serious health hazard. Who knows if this ban will actually help slow down obesity in America, but the fact that the government is seriously concerned will definitely impact the peoples decision.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well. I think that banning such a drink will not stop consumption. If people finish their large soda and want more they will just get frustrated that they have to buy another but it wont stop them. People will consume what they want to consume even if it is not particularly convenient for them to do so. The other day, I was at Walgreens and I really wanted some chocolate. Of course they didn't have the kind I wanted so I drove all the way to Target to get it. I really don't think banning a larger container is going to make people stop consuming the large amount. It really is ineffective.
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