On Wednesday, May 30th, 2012 Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his plan to ban sugary drinks over 16 ounces in restaurants and other food establishments in New York City. While New Yorkers would still be able to purchase sugary drinks in these restaurants, the size they would be allowed to purchase would be limited to 16 ounces. In addition, consumers can still purchase soda and other sugary drinks of any size in supermarkets and certain delis: it s only in establishments that serve the food. I personally think Bloomberg's proposal is horrible. The government has no business telling people what they can and cannot buy or eat, not in this country with our Constitution. If people choose to drink this junk and get fat, that's their business.
So pharmacies and bodegas are not going to be restricted. In that case, if someone really wants to buy a larger drink at the movies, they can easily walk to a supermarket buy a soda, shove it in their bag and wait for the movie to start. We don’t only buy our sugary beverages at a movie theater or restaurant. Even if we did, with this ban anyone can easily purchase two 16oz is a 32oz is not available. I understand trying to halt obesity and diabetes but I think the work of Dr. Bernard and her students has shown us all a more effective way of being healthy is to be more knowledgeable about the food we consume, not a ban on the unhealthy items. When we are told not to do something, our instincts make us want to do the exact thing even more.
Portion size is a marketing choice. We as consumers should decide what size makes sense to buy. Suppliers should provide what we want. The government should not treat us as incapable of making such choices by limiting them. Even the obese among us have the capability to decide what to buy, what to consume and what package size we desire. No legislation will limit the amount of bad choices we make. We are and should be free to make our own good or bad choices concerning the size of the containers we buy.
Why are dairy based beverages excluded? The "Nutrition Menus" are widely available for the iced coffee drinks at place such as Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. The calorie counts in many of these drinks can be as much or more than 2-3 donuts. Some of these drinks contain nearly as many calories as half a large container of the lower calorie "slow churned" Ice creams. Also, why are sugar-free drinks exempt? Sugared drinks are