What next???

[pomtzu]

The mayor of New York City is trying to get legislation passed that would ban the sale of super-sized (over 16oz) sugary drinks in restaurants and vending machines within the city. This is his part on the war against obesity. IMO this is one of the stupidest things I've heard in quite some time. If it does come to be (tho highly doubtful), then what's to stop someone from just getting 2 of the 16oz drinks?? How much more nonsense are these governments going to try to slap us with? Let's just live in a dictatorship and be done with it! Sure - ban smoking in public buildings, limit the number of alcoholic drinks you can be served at a bar - but Coke or Pepsi??? Come on now Mr Mayor - get real!

Is there anyone out there that agrees with this proposal?

[mrspunkysmom]

I understand where he is coming from, but you can't legislate good habits any more that you can do so for morality.

This will take a concentrated effort and re-focus of our whole society, including the medical branch. Education is the key. Changing our philosophy will produce results, not laws.

Our need for everything instant has fueled this expansion of the boxed food companies.

Okay. Off the soap box.

[redbird]

I totally agree with you and I think Blumberg is getting senile. There is no way you can stop people from paying and getting what they want. He is taking things a bit far.

[Miss Z]

If it does come to be (tho highly doubtful), then what's to stop someone from just getting 2 of the 16oz drinks?? How much more nonsense are these governments going to try to slap us with?

Perhaps the logic is that most people will only go for the supersized option purely because it's on offer, and that's a large factor in the increased obesity in the population? Just speculating, of course, but I know that I'm always tempted to get a larger size coffee, even when the regular would be just fine. Also, the price of two half-size drinks would be more expensive than one super-sized, so perhaps price would put people off too.

There certainly are better ways to tackle obesity than this, but I can't say I'd be too hurt if such a law were to be imposed over here if it proved successful.

[cassiesmom]

I can't imagine how this would pass. I'm picturing the 7-11 Big Gulp here. I'm guilty of buying a larger than 16-ounce diet Coke. It comes in a 20-ounce bottle and the little mini mart in the building where I work sells them. I drink half of it mid-morning and the other half with l unch. I think Mayor Bloomberg is wide of the mark on this one.

[Freedom]

I think it is a move in the right direction~!

As a medical doc said on TV this morning, "most folks are too lazy to be able to carry two smaller ones." She also commented that sodas have absolutely NO nutritional benefit at all.

Personally, I think a tax should be added on any and all foods that are high in fat and carbs.

We stopped drinking soda at all in this house almost 10 years ago, now. There is just no reason to be taking in that sort of poison.

[pomtzu]

I know what his intentions are, but I really don't think it has a chance of a snowball in h&ll of ever being put into law. You can talk and educate till you're blue in the face, and people will consume the amount of food and drink that they want to. I drink Pepsi, but not that much - I buy an 8-pack of 12oz bottles once each month, and that lasts me the whole month, and no one else in the household drinks that much anymore either. We all drink the Crystal Light mixes in place of the sodas.

And if that NYC law on super size drinks passes, then can the burgers and fries be far behind??? Sorry folks - no more large orders of fries or double cheeseburgers - small and singles only!!! Afterall - those are much worse for you than that big drink anyway.

So where (and how), could they possibly draw the line. The way I see it, there is NO WAY!

[Catty1]

I know I would buy just one "large" drink, and if it is smaller by law, it makes no difference to me. To my brain, a "large" is a "large". I would never buy two small ones - for me, that is not how an impulse purchase works!

[catnapper]

Oh for the love of Grace! If someone wants something, they'll get it. Hubby is working hard on weening himself off sugary soft drinks. Some days he has none, some days he has two cans. Its much better than him drinking a 32 oz bottle every day. He'd still get his cola despite restaurants not serving large sizes.

Its like that stupid law to make getting the cold medicine they need to make meth harder.... it only aggravates the honest people by making us stand in line at the Pharmacy counter. The guys making meth still get their cold medicine easy-peezie. I just never have the Advil Cold and Sinus that works wonders on my sinus pain becuase its too much of a hassle to get to the pharmacy when the pharmacist is actually there, then stand in line, then swipe my ID, sign my life away for COLD MEDICINE. I'll just deal with the actual headache instead of going through the headache of getting the medicine.

[happylabs]

I understand his concern, but he is going about it the wrong way. How about educating people on how bad soft drinks are for us. I think they are addicting. I went off drinking soda about a month ago. I always feel better/healthier when I am not drinking it but it does taste good!

There are so many issues with food these days. High fructose corn syrup is in everything! And the commercials try to tell us it isn't that bad for us.

I could go off on a big tangent here about the FDA and what they say is good for us, but I won't.

[carole]

you can just go too far and become a nanny state, that is what they call NZ sometimes, i am all for healthy eating, etc etc, but when do you stop taking people's choices away from them, i actually think a tax on all junk food is a better idea and i support that much more.

We have just as much a problem here down under with obesity as anywhere else, if not more...

[Lady's Human]

Calling Dr. Cocteau, and have a happy happy joy joy day.

[beeniesmom]

It does seem a bit strange but it will probably work.

I don't see people buying 2 drinks if they can't get a bigger size.

Take the Supersize Fry which mc donalds did away with. I used to get them all the time because I love the fries.
Now I just get the regular when I do go, which isn't often. I won't buy 2 of them so there might be a point in what he's doing.

[moosmom]

I highly doubt taking away the availability of super-sized drinks is going to put much of a dent in society's obesity problem. While his intentions may be good, it goes WAAAAY beyond just drinking soda.

I think this guy needs to concentrate on more important stuff. And for the record, I don't drink soda. I drink ice water.

[happylabs]

I highly doubt taking away the availability of super-sized drinks is going to put much of a dent in society's obesity problem. While his intentions may be good, it goes WAAAAY beyond just drinking soda.

I think this guy needs to concentrate on more important stuff. And for the record, I don't drink soda. I drink ice water.

I agree. Like I said before, it isn't the way to go about it. This guy sounds a little nutty.

I have been drinking flavored seltzer water. It has no calories, caffeine, or any type of sugar. I find I like the fizz in my drink so that is what I drink when I need to be fizzy.