You Can Lead a Horse to Water- But Can You Make 'em Stop Drinking Soda?
by Mark Riley,posted May 31 2012 5:41PM
I have to admit this up front. From the time I was a kid, I had a sweet tooth. I LOVED sugar, the way it tasted, its texture, how it looked on top of cereal, everything. I once got my butt beat when my mother caught me with a mouthful of sugar I stole from the jar in our apartment. She hit me upside my head, and sugar flew everywhere! Over the years, I have always liked things sweet. Maybe that's why now, late in life, I have Type 2 diabetes. No matter. My love of sugar had me checking out very closely NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to ban large sugary drinks like soda from restaurants, movie houses, and even street carts.
The mayor's plan would ban sugary drinks larger than 16 oz., and already it's drawn the wrath of the trade group that represents soda manufacturers. They were successful is turning back an attempt to restrict the sale of sugary drinks through a state tax. In addition to the people who bring you sugary drinks, some just plain folks are upset as well. New Yorkers don't like being told what to do, and the moniker "Nanny Bloomberg" is gaining new traction. For his part, Mike Bloomberg and his folks in the City Health Dept. point to some alarming statistics about how many New Yorkers are suffering from obesity.
He's got a point there. My own anecdotal observations around the city reveals an extraordinary number of people walking around with large amounts of extra weight. If you don't believe me, stand outside your average fast food joint, and watch who comes in and out, and how much food and drink they're carrying. And therein lies the problem. Naysayers will argue that sugary drinks are but one item in a collection that can lead to obesity, and they're right. But why not start when and where you can? The other issue is tougher to pinpoint. Sugary drinks, and specifically soda, are in this culture's DNA. It's readily available, and cheap. At the supermarket where I shop, soda is on sale in one form or another, every week of the year. If you think about it, that's why you often see kids walking around with large drinks that look as big as they are. We love sugary drinks, and the real question is whether limiting their size will alter that love.
While the jury may be out on that, I must say this is one time I find myself in agreement with Mayor Bloomberg. I thought he was dead wrong abnout smoking, and that a ban in bars would mean the end of nightlife as we knew it. I was wrong, and New Yorkers' average lifespans have gone up a year. In this case, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he's right on this big sugary drink ban. He may act like a nanny sometimes, but there are times when even a nanny is right.
You Can Lead a Horse to Water- But Can You Make 'em Stop Drinking Soda?
Please Enter Your Comments Below
06/01/2012 2:16PM
Freedom
I strongly disagree with what Bloomberg wants to do. But then, I also disagree with the smoking ban.
Many years ago, there used to be these little no-smoking sections. So many people thought that they were a good idea. I didn't. I said, "Give them a finger and they will take the whole hand". I was right. Now, it is illegal to smoke just about anywhere.
With this large sugary drink ban, this is just the start. Where will it end? White bread? Caffeine? Any sugary drinks at all? French Fries? Cheeseburgers?
If he is concerned about obesity in children, he should make the streets safe so that children can walk to school and play outside without adult supervision. He can also restore funding for physical education programs.
If he is concerned about adults, he sould remember that when you quit smoking, you gain weight.
Just think about all the freedom we have lost since he is mayor.
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I have to admit this up front. From the time I was a kid, I had a sweet tooth. I LOVED sugar, the way it tasted, its texture, how it looked on top of cereal, everything. I once got my butt beat when my mother caught me with a mouthful of sugar I stole from the jar in our apartment. She hit me upside my head, and sugar flew everywhere! Over the years, I have always liked things sweet. Maybe that's why now, late in life, I have Type 2 diabetes. No matter. My love of sugar had me checking out very closely NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to ban large sugary drinks like soda from restaurants, movie houses, and even street carts. 