New York OKs nation's fir...ary drinks

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City passed the first U.S. ban of oversized sugary drinks on Thursday in its latest controversial step to reduce obesity and its deadly complications in a nation with a weight problem.

By an 8-0 vote with one abstention, the mayoral-appointed city health board outlawed sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces nearly everywhere they are sold, except groceries and convenience stores. Violators of the ban, which does not include diet sodas, face a $200 fine.

Opponents, who cast the issue as an infringement on personal freedom and called Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who proposed the ban in May, an overbearing nanny, vowed to continue their fight. They may go to court in the hopes of blocking or overturning the measure before it takes effect in March.

"It's sad that the board wants to limit our choices," Liz Berman, a business owner and chairwoman of New Yorkers for Beverage Choices, a beverage industry-sponsored group, said in a statement. "We are smart enough to make our own decisions about what to eat and drink."

On Twitter, Bloomberg heralded the measure's passage as "the single biggest step any gov't has taken to curb #obesity. It will help save lives."

Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said the measure was likely to be copied elsewhere in the nation - and even the world - as were the city's restrictions on trans fats and smoking.

Farley recently said if the law results in "shrinking only one sugary drink per person every two weeks from 20 ounces to 16 ounces, New Yorkers could collectively prevent 2.3 million pounds gained per year. This would slow the obesity epidemic and prevent much needless illness."

Next step is what? Making it illegal to eat a cheeseburger?

Crazy.

But why do you think it's crazy?

As far as I'm concerned they could ban all soda's and junk food altogether.

MacDaddy said:

But why do you think it's crazy?

As far as I'm concerned they could ban all soda's and junk food altogether.

It's crazy because I don't need the government to FORCE me to eat a certain way.

As an adult living in a "free" society, I am aware that eating a greasy cheeseburger is not exactly in my best interest, or that I should limit my sugary drinks intake...but I don't need a LAW to force me. I know it's extreme, but do you want some lawmaker to next decide that sushi is too dangerous and outlaw that? Or that creamy cheese sauces mixed with pasta could draw a fine for the high cholesterol levels?

I would argue for the opposite actually. I would like for the government to allow us to eat, drink, smoke, snort, shoot whatever we want...but with that freedom we'd need to deal with the consequences of those actions as adults.

I get what the outcry is about (and I mostly agree), but I just don’t care. The ban will stay in effect and overall people will drink less soda because of it and we’ll all be better off. If you want more than 16 ounces, you can buy an additional soda. This isn’t stopping anyone from consuming more and yet it will have an effect in reducing consumption.

It’s like smoking bans. I think any business should be able to allow any legal activity on their premises that they want. And yet I won’t fight against smoking bans (even when I was a smoker) as they prove effective in lowering smoking rates in the general population. I belive in your right to choose to smoke but we’re all better off if no one does, so any effort to reduce makes sense.

Proud to say that I have never in my life had a Big Gulp. I don't know why they were an option in the first place.

Ack! We wonder why there's so much diabetes here.

http://www.fatsecret.com/...ain-drinks

CarrieMpls said:

I get what the outcry is about (and I mostly agree), but I just don’t care. The ban will stay in effect and overall people will drink less soda because of it and we’ll all be better off. If you want more than 16 ounces, you can buy an additional soda. This isn’t stopping anyone from consuming more and yet it will have an effect in reducing consumption.

It’s like smoking bans. I think any business should be able to allow any legal activity on their premises that they want. And yet I won’t fight against smoking bans (even when I was a smoker) as they prove effective in lowering smoking rates in the general population. I belive in your right to choose to smoke but we’re all better off if no one does, so any effort to reduce makes sense.

I agree.

Yes, I am all for people doing what they want to do but ultimately, insurance rates have/will go up for everyone because of treatments for obesity.

Shanti0608 said:

Proud to say that I have never in my life had a Big Gulp. I don't know why they were an option in the first place.

Ack! We wonder why there's so much diabetes here.

http://www.fatsecret.com/...ain-drinks

When I was a teenager, one of the best parts of summertime was heading to 7-ELeven on a hot day and buying a SUPER Big Gulp, mixing 3 or 4 different sodas in one.

As of turning 40, I can honestly say that I've had maybe 2 Big Gulps in the past 2 years, and I'm sure I didn't even finish drinking the whole thing. This even though I have a 7-Eleven across the street from my office (which I visit daily).

Gluttony is an evil that our society has to deal with, but not through legislation IMO.

PurpleJedi said:

Shanti0608 said:

Proud to say that I have never in my life had a Big Gulp. I don't know why they were an option in the first place.

Ack! We wonder why there's so much diabetes here.

http://www.fatsecret.com/...ain-drinks

When I was a teenager, one of the best parts of summertime was heading to 7-ELeven on a hot day and buying a SUPER Big Gulp, mixing 3 or 4 different sodas in one.

As of turning 40, I can honestly say that I've had maybe 2 Big Gulps in the past 2 years, and I'm sure I didn't even finish drinking the whole thing. This even though I have a 7-Eleven across the street from my office (which I visit daily).

Gluttony is an evil that our society has to deal with, but not through legislation IMO.

Then how do you deal with it? Pepsi n'nem ain't gonna do the right thing on their own.

New Yorkers can still buy and drink all the soda they want. There is no ban on gluttony. This legislation and the outrage over it are both silly in my opinion.

fuck it... just buy a six-pack and down it if you're so determined...

PurpleJedi said:

Shanti0608 said:

Proud to say that I have never in my life had a Big Gulp. I don't know why they were an option in the first place.

Ack! We wonder why there's so much diabetes here.

http://www.fatsecret.com/...ain-drinks

When I was a teenager, one of the best parts of summertime was heading to 7-ELeven on a hot day and buying a SUPER Big Gulp, mixing 3 or 4 different sodas in one.

As of turning 40, I can honestly say that I've had maybe 2 Big Gulps in the past 2 years, and I'm sure I didn't even finish drinking the whole thing. This even though I have a 7-Eleven across the street from my office (which I visit daily).

Gluttony is an evil that our society has to deal with, but not through legislation IMO.

I think it comes down to ppl being responsible for their actions and their health. It is weird how Americans react to things like banning a big gulp. You should see the size of a large coke that you get from Mc Donalds in the UK. It is the size of a small here. I guess in this country ppl believe bigger is better.

I guess because in America we have had everything big and it being available on every corner, we think our liberties and and rights are being stripped if we can't get a Big Gulp anymore. You can still walk in to a 7-11 and buy 2 liter bottles of coke, right?

This reminds me of a discussion I had with my mom recently. She was telling me that the new washing machines in the US were no longer going to have the hot setting. She was outraged and said this country was not longer free.

I told her the entire time I was in the UK I washed my clothes in 30C (86F) because that is what most washers there are set to and the detergents were designed to clean in cooler waters.

This country is spoiled and now struggling with the consequences of being spoiled like bad health and damage to the environment.

Just my 2 cents.

[Edited 9/14/12 8:08am]

Shanti0608 said:

PurpleJedi said:

When I was a teenager, one of the best parts of summertime was heading to 7-ELeven on a hot day and buying a SUPER Big Gulp, mixing 3 or 4 different sodas in one.

As of turning 40, I can honestly say that I've had maybe 2 Big Gulps in the past 2 years, and I'm sure I didn't even finish drinking the whole thing. This even though I have a 7-Eleven across the street from my office (which I visit daily).

Gluttony is an evil that our society has to deal with, but not through legislation IMO.

I think it comes down to ppl being responsible for their actions and their health. It is weird how Americans react to things like banning a big gulp. You should see the size of a large coke that you get from Mc Donalds in the UK. It is the size of a small here. I guess in this country ppl believe bigger is better.

I guess because in America we have had everything big and it being available on every corner, we think our liberties and and rights are being stripped if we can't get a Big Gulp anymore. You can still walk in to a 7-11 and buy 2 liter bottles of coke, right?

This reminds me of a discussion I had with my mom recently. She was telling me that the new washing machines in the US were no longer going to have the hot setting. She was outraged and said this country was not longer free.

I told her the entire time I was in the UK I washed my clothes in 30C (86F) because that is what most washers there are set to and the detergents were designed to clean in cooler waters.

This country is spoiled and now struggling with the consequences of being spoiled like bad health and damage to the environment.

Just my 2 cents.

[Edited 9/14/12 8:08am]

Spot on.

Shanti0608 said:

PurpleJedi said:

When I was a teenager, one of the best parts of summertime was heading to 7-ELeven on a hot day and buying a SUPER Big Gulp, mixing 3 or 4 different sodas in one.

As of turning 40, I can honestly say that I've had maybe 2 Big Gulps in the past 2 years, and I'm sure I didn't even finish drinking the whole thing. This even though I have a 7-Eleven across the street from my office (which I visit daily).

Gluttony is an evil that our society has to deal with, but not through legislation IMO.

I think it comes down to ppl being responsible for their actions and their health. It is weird how Americans react to things like banning a big gulp. You should see the size of a large coke that you get from Mc Donalds in the UK. It is the size of a small here. I guess in this country ppl believe bigger is better.

I guess because in America we have had everything big and it being available on every corner, we think our liberties and and rights are being stripped if we can't get a Big Gulp anymore. You can still walk in to a 7-11 and buy 2 liter bottles of coke, right?

This reminds me of a discussion I had with my mom recently. She was telling me that the new washing machines in the US were no longer going to have the hot setting. She was outraged and said this country was not longer free.

I told her the entire time I was in the UK I washed my clothes in 30C (86F) because that is what most washers there are set to and the detergents were designed to clean in cooler waters.

This country is spoiled and now struggling with the consequences of being spoiled like bad health and damage to the environment.

Just my 2 cents.

[Edited 9/14/12 8:08am]

Stymie said:

PurpleJedi said:

When I was a teenager, one of the best parts of summertime was heading to 7-ELeven on a hot day and buying a SUPER Big Gulp, mixing 3 or 4 different sodas in one.

As of turning 40, I can honestly say that I've had maybe 2 Big Gulps in the past 2 years, and I'm sure I didn't even finish drinking the whole thing. This even though I have a 7-Eleven across the street from my office (which I visit daily).

Gluttony is an evil that our society has to deal with, but not through legislation IMO.

Then how do you deal with it? Pepsi n'nem ain't gonna do the right thing on their own.

This being a nation of free enterprise, we can't expect a company to want to sell LESS.

How about we start by trying to get Americans to think once again that they are accountable for their actions?

This is beyond soft drinks and smoking, this goes deeper. Americans have come to believe that we can do whatever we want and if shit hits the fan, then you blame everyone (society, parents, the Man, Pepsi, etc.) for your troubles.

Educate the public is one step. Stop pandering to people's delicate natures and reinforce the fact that overeating is not only bad for your health, but bad for the nation and the environment.

I would rather SHAME people into doing what they should be doing, then legislate it.

That's my 2¢ anyway.

PurpleJedi said:

Stymie said:

Then how do you deal with it? Pepsi n'nem ain't gonna do the right thing on their own.

This being a nation of free enterprise, we can't expect a company to want to sell LESS.

How about we start by trying to get Americans to think once again that they are accountable for their actions?

This is beyond soft drinks and smoking, this goes deeper. Americans have come to believe that we can do whatever we want and if shit hits the fan, then you blame everyone (society, parents, the Man, Pepsi, etc.) for your troubles.

Educate the public is one step. Stop pandering to people's delicate natures and reinforce the fact that overeating is not only bad for your health, but bad for the nation and the environment.

I would rather SHAME people into doing what they should be doing, then legislate it.

That's my 2¢ anyway.

I bet if you were to put the nutritional info like what was on the link I posted on the side of the big gulp cup ppl would have a fit or just ignore it.

PurpleJedi said:

Stymie said:

Then how do you deal with it? Pepsi n'nem ain't gonna do the right thing on their own.

This being a nation of free enterprise, we can't expect a company to want to sell LESS.

How about we start by trying to get Americans to think once again that they are accountable for their actions?

This is beyond soft drinks and smoking, this goes deeper. Americans have come to believe that we can do whatever we want and if shit hits the fan, then you blame everyone (society, parents, the Man, Pepsi, etc.) for your troubles.

Educate the public is one step. Stop pandering to people's delicate natures and reinforce the fact that overeating is not only bad for your health, but bad for the nation and the environment.

I would rather SHAME people into doing what they should be doing, then legislate it.

That's my 2¢ anyway.

You think shame is effective? Really? If that were true there would be no overweight children, the other children on the playground would take care of it.

I'm not saying legislation is tha answer, but clearly education isn't enough. At least what we've done so far isn't.

CarrieMpls said:

PurpleJedi said:

This being a nation of free enterprise, we can't expect a company to want to sell LESS.

How about we start by trying to get Americans to think once again that they are accountable for their actions?

This is beyond soft drinks and smoking, this goes deeper. Americans have come to believe that we can do whatever we want and if shit hits the fan, then you blame everyone (society, parents, the Man, Pepsi, etc.) for your troubles.

Educate the public is one step. Stop pandering to people's delicate natures and reinforce the fact that overeating is not only bad for your health, but bad for the nation and the environment.

I would rather SHAME people into doing what they should be doing, then legislate it.

That's my 2¢ anyway.

You think shame is effective? Really? If that were true there would be no overweight children, the other children on the playground would take care of it.

I'm not saying legislation is tha answer, but clearly education isn't enough. At least what we've done so far isn't.

I think some of it comes down to parents educating their children. It is tough because kids want to have sweet things and treats all of the time.

My son is almost 3 and every time we go out to eat, he wants bubbles. (Sprite or Ginger Ale). He wants whatever he sees the adults having as well.

Some times we let him have a treat of bubbles then I feel guilty. I hate it, I would rather him never touch the stuff.

When he gets old enough to learn about foods and things that are bad for him I will educate him.

It is harder in this country because things are so easy to get. He had a frosty once then then the next time we drove past Wendy's he pointed and said "Go in there mommy!".

I told him, no we were just in there the last time for a special treat.

I must say the marketing ppl really know what they are doing but at the end of the day we need to be responsible for ourselves and our children.

It is not the job of government to save people from their own stupidity.

New Yorkers...enjoy the fascism you voted for.

PurpleJedi said:

Stymie said:

Then how do you deal with it? Pepsi n'nem ain't gonna do the right thing on their own.

This being a nation of free enterprise, we can't expect a company to want to sell LESS.

How about we start by trying to get Americans to think once again that they are accountable for their actions?

This is beyond soft drinks and smoking, this goes deeper. Americans have come to believe that we can do whatever we want and if shit hits the fan, then you blame everyone (society, parents, the Man, Pepsi, etc.) for your troubles.

Educate the public is one step. Stop pandering to people's delicate natures and reinforce the fact that overeating is not only bad for your health, but bad for the nation and the environment.

I would rather SHAME people into doing what they should be doing, then legislate it.

That's my 2¢ anyway.

But haven't we been doing this, Ren? Do we really not know? Do you know? Do I know?

We both know and I knew before I got diabetes and yet I still didn't take care of myself enough to prevent it. Luckily, my costs for treatment for that is out of pocket and not at cost to taxpayers.

Genesia said:

It is not the job of government to save people from their own stupidity.

New Yorkers...enjoy the fascism you voted for.

Yes but aren't there things we are perfectly okay with the goverment legislating people on stupidity?

Stymie said:

Genesia said:

It is not the job of government to save people from their own stupidity.

New Yorkers...enjoy the fascism you voted for.

Yes but aren't there things we are perfectly okay with the goverment legislating people on stupidity?

Seatbelt laws, for example. Or motorcycle helmet laws.

I have mixed emotions, because I miss the old days of dirty New York. That was the amazing city I fell in love with, not the cleaned-up Giuliani version with a Disneyfied Times Square. But I don't drink soda anymore, and when I did I drank diet soda, so I don't really have a dog in this fight.

As others have pointed out, you can still buy and drink as much soda as you want, so it doesn't seem like too big a deal to me, all in all.

PurpleJedi said:

MacDaddy said:

But why do you think it's crazy?

As far as I'm concerned they could ban all soda's and junk food altogether.

It's crazy because I don't need the government to FORCE me to eat a certain way.

As an adult living in a "free" society, I am aware that eating a greasy cheeseburger is not exactly in my best interest, or that I should limit my sugary drinks intake...but I don't need a LAW to force me. I know it's extreme, but do you want some lawmaker to next decide that sushi is too dangerous and outlaw that? Or that creamy cheese sauces mixed with pasta could draw a fine for the high cholesterol levels?

I would argue for the opposite actually. I would like for the government to allow us to eat, drink, smoke, snort, shoot whatever we want...but with that freedom we'd need to deal with the consequences of those actions as adults.

Actually, you do need the government to force you not to.

Stop bringing up irrelevant shit like pasta sauces. There is a very clear and valid and reasonable answer as to why gigantic vats of diabetes water should be banned and you're well aware of it. You, like many folks, just don't like being told 'no'...

Genesia said:

It is not the job of government to save people from their own stupidity.

New Yorkers...enjoy the fascism you voted for.

That's pretty dramatic, even for you.

Stymie said:

Genesia said:

It is not the job of government to save people from their own stupidity.

New Yorkers...enjoy the fascism you voted for.

Yes but aren't there things we are perfectly okay with the goverment legislating people on stupidity?

You mean like banning smoking in bars and forcing motorcyclists to wear helmets? I don't approve of that shit, either.

Trust me, I like coming home after an evening out and having my clothes not wreak of smoke as much as anyone. But I don't think making laws to ensure that is an appropriate use of government.

Spinlight said:

Genesia said:

It is not the job of government to save people from their own stupidity.

New Yorkers...enjoy the fascism you voted for.

That's pretty dramatic, even for you.

That just proves how little you know me.

Efan said:

Stymie said:

Yes but aren't there things we are perfectly okay with the goverment legislating people on stupidity?

Seatbelt laws, for example. Or motorcycle helmet laws.

I have mixed emotions, because I miss the old days of dirty New York. That was the amazing city I fell in love with, not the cleaned-up Giuliani version with a Disneyfied Times Square. But I don't drink soda anymore, and when I did I drank diet soda, so I don't really have a dog in this fight.

As others have pointed out, you can still buy and drink as much soda as you want, so it doesn't seem like too big a deal to me, all in all.

Smoking laws definitely. I have nothing against smokers but I am very happy to not have to breathe in secondhand smoke in my office all day.

It's not a big deal for those who want to have all the soda they want but I think it's a good step to looking at the problem of obesity in this country.

I believe we cannot continue to sustain a society where healthcare costs continue to skyrocket and the burden falls on the taxpayers. That just is not fair.

CarrieMpls said:

PurpleJedi said:

This being a nation of free enterprise, we can't expect a company to want to sell LESS.

How about we start by trying to get Americans to think once again that they are accountable for their actions?

This is beyond soft drinks and smoking, this goes deeper. Americans have come to believe that we can do whatever we want and if shit hits the fan, then you blame everyone (society, parents, the Man, Pepsi, etc.) for your troubles.

Educate the public is one step. Stop pandering to people's delicate natures and reinforce the fact that overeating is not only bad for your health, but bad for the nation and the environment.

I would rather SHAME people into doing what they should be doing, then legislate it.

That's my 2¢ anyway.

You think shame is effective? Really? If that were true there would be no overweight children, the other children on the playground would take care of it.

I'm not saying legislation is tha answer, but clearly education isn't enough. At least what we've done so far isn't.

Kids are different. Children need to be controlled by parents. My daughter can eat like there's no tomorrow, and because she's on the cusp of puberty, she's been eating ALOT and has gotten that 'pear' shape. It's up to her mother & I to moderate her intake. We're not berating her or "shaming" her (she is a CHILD after all) but we do tell her to watch it and don't buy her the super-sized meals regardless of how hard she pleads.

Adults on the other hand...yes, SHAME.

If you are obese (not overweight, I mean OBESE) and you are stuffing your face at the all-you-can-eat buffet to aggravate your problem, (I've seen them myself)...then I have no sympathy for the glares and derisive comments coming your way. That should keep you away from the buffet, NOT a LAW to make it illegal for obese people to enter the establishment.

Stymie said:

Efan said:

Seatbelt laws, for example. Or motorcycle helmet laws.

I have mixed emotions, because I miss the old days of dirty New York. That was the amazing city I fell in love with, not the cleaned-up Giuliani version with a Disneyfied Times Square. But I don't drink soda anymore, and when I did I drank diet soda, so I don't really have a dog in this fight.

As others have pointed out, you can still buy and drink as much soda as you want, so it doesn't seem like too big a deal to me, all in all.

Smoking laws definitely. I have nothing against smokers but I am very happy to not have to breathe in secondhand smoke in my office all day.

It's not a big deal for those who want to have all the soda they want but I think it's a good step to looking at the problem of obesity in this country.

I believe we cannot continue to sustain a society where healthcare costs continue to skyrocket and the burden falls on the taxpayers. That just is not fair.

Agreed.

Genesia said:

Stymie said:

Yes but aren't there things we are perfectly okay with the goverment legislating people on stupidity?

You mean like banning smoking in bars and forcing motorcyclists to wear helmets? I don't approve of that shit, either.

Trust me, I like coming home after an evening out and having my clothes not wreak of smoke as much as anyone. But I don't think making laws to ensure that is an appropriate use of government.

Those too but I meant more like smoking in office buildings. I probably could come up with more but that's off the top of my head and relevant to my situation. I am glad I don't have to breathe someone else's smoke all day. People can do what they want as long as it doesn't affect me.

i dislike this legislation. it's too parental, imo. what next? no potato chips? no pizza?

i also object to the smoking bans, and think the situation could be handled through dedicated smoking rooms. but that's just me.