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[Red Blaster]

This is really unbelievable. 10 years ago, if you said that governments were going to ban soda some day, people would have told you that you're a nutball and directed you to the tin foil hats. Now...
what's next?

your bitter tears

 

[Cagey]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions... and that seems to be one of the only roads that Bloomberg is keen on paving.

 

[Haly]

This is stupid.

Now all suicides have to be less than 16 oz

That picture is pretty ironic:

Convenience stores, including 7-Eleven and its king-size “Big Gulp” drinks, would be exempt, along with vending machines and some newsstands.

 

[Chakan]

If people wanna drink 3-4 Liters (I won't use ounces, I don't live on USA!) of soda every day and get very fat, who cares? They know they'll have issues in the future because of this. If they don't know, they're stupid.

Just increase the price people should pay for soda and they'll drink less, at least some of them.

A bottle of soda costs less than a bottle of water. That's just stupid.

Here in Brazil, a 2L bottle of coke costs about 2,40 dollars. A bottle of water with 1,5 liters costs an average price of 0,75 cents.

 

[Davidion]

Did those Mayor's have a habit of spending taxpayer money to harass lawful commerce in neighboring states or basic constitutional rights?

Yeah the Giulianis and Dinkins of the world CERTAINLY didn't hinder commerce at all. Oh wait, Dinkin's NYC was a shithole and Giuliani was called a fucking Nazi by many a NYCers on a regular basis.

Bloomberg is a piece of shit idiot bordering on the evil because of the NYPD stuff alone. I really wish/hope he'd be replaced as well as a dramatic changes to how NYPD operates.

I'm sorry, are you new to the NYPD? You think the shit that they've been pulling is a BLOOMBERG thing? Holy christ, you must be 15.

I can appreciate someone coined the term, but this doesn't fall into libertarian paternalism. Libertarian paternalism means I can opt out if I wanted to. Such as defaulting someone to be an organ donor when they get their driver's license, but I can opt out if I want to.

But it's a silly term anyway; it's still government coercion. But you can't even opt out of this. I can't buy a 20oz soda from a seller who wants to sell me a 20oz soda. That's not libertarian in any sense. You can try to use semantics and say I can buy 2 sodas, but the spirit of the law is still contrary to individual freedom.

Yeah yeah, government coercion, where any restrictions on the availability of absolutely anything is somehow a gross violation of freedoms and a slippery slope into a police state where people don't have choice.

But prohibition! People can still buy massive roast beef sandwiches and booze! Except, you know, there's no actual ban on anything and maybe, just maybe, giant portions of sandwiches and alcohol aren't pushed by default on anyone, particularly kids and young adults, at every movie theater and sporting event they go to.

But hey, why be concerned about the data when you can wave around a stupid flag and complain about your freedom, right?

 

[Open Source]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/nyregion/health-board-approves-bloombergs-soda-ban.html?_r=1&hp



And here we go. Personally, I'm indifferent to it as I don't drink soda all that often nor buy it as part of my groceries. I understand that obesity is at the heart of this issue, but people can make healthy choices. Families need to cut it off like any bad habit over time.

But part me thinks that Bloomberg wants to end his term with a bang and this one of these milestones that he just checked off. Tough issue. I suppose I agree with the banning since poor families are often the ones that consume soda a ton and I live in a working class neighborhood in the city. What say you GAF? Do you agree or disagree with the ban?

EDIT: Mod request: Replace Soda with Large Sugary Drinks (should've gone with that title in the first place).

Sure, let's make everything that leads to obesity illegal. What freedom-limiting crusade shall we embark on next? Oh, I know, since unprotected gay sex statistically has a greater chance of causing HIV infection, let's make that illegal too.

 

[KingGondo]

That picture is pretty ironic:

Stop complicating this discussion with your pesky "facts."

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

It amuses me greatly that there are right-wingers far more concerned about NYC banning large soda sizes than voter suppression in swing states.

To be fair to the right wingers, how do you know they are more concerned about this than voter suppression?

 

[Eric C]

That picture is pretty ironic:

I couldn't find a picture of someone making a suicide at a McDonalds or other fastfood restaurant.

 

[sarcastor]

What is it about? Freedom?

its about government telling us what we can or can't do. even at the basic level. yeah i know this sounds a bit overdramatic but you have to look at the bigger picture.

this is not about fat kids or obesity. it's about choice.

i find it odd that i live in a country that's touted as the land of the free and i can't buy a god damn 20oz soda at a movie theater (yes also a bit overdramatic)

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

your bitter tears

your fascist government

 

[Ovid]

I'm just like the OP, totally indifferent to the whole thing since I rarely drink soda. But don't limit my choices of serving sizes in places where I want to have a good time. If I want 32oz of soda in a restaurant let me have it.

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

your fascist government

This isn't really an insult or counterpoint for someone who doesn't equate this with fascism, though. (Which is probably everyone who disagrees with you.)

 

[Davidion]

its about government telling us what we can or can't do. even at the basic level. yeah i know this sounds a bit overdramatic but you have to look at the bigger picture.

this is not about fat kids or obesity. it's about choice.

i find it odd that i live in a country that's touted as the land of the free and i can't buy a god damn 20oz soda at a movie theater.

Hey honey bumpkin, why can't I buy a small soda at a movie theater? Like, small small, as opposed to the bumped up size small that I have to buy?

Or did your completely nonsensical definition of choice completely ignore the product availability options that are regularly defined by companies every day?

 

[Joates]

I'm just like the OP, totally indifferent to the whole thing since I rarely drink soda. But don't limit my choices of serving sizes in places where I want to have a good time. If I want 32oz of soda in a restaurant let me have.

You can. It just cant all be washed down in one fell swoop...

 

[AlphaSnake]

A lot of people are missing this tidbit:

but establishments with self-service drink fountains, like many fast-food restaurants, would not be allowed to stock cups larger than 16 ounces. Only establishments that receive inspection grades from the health department would have to obey the rules, a group that includes movie theaters and stadium concession stands. Convenience stores, including 7-Eleven and its king-size “Big Gulp” drinks, would be exempt, along with vending machines and some newsstands.

SELF-SERVICE. That means, you can get your fat ass up and refill on your own. If your McDs or Burger King restaurant does not have fountains, then they can keep larger sizes.

I fucking hate being given some ridiculous toilet bowl 64 oz cup in a movie theater. So I'm glad this will be curbed to some extent now, as well.

Also, you can still buy your giant drinks at supermarkets and such for the house.

 

[KingGondo]

To be fair to the right wingers, how do you know they are more concerned about this than voter suppression?

Look at any of the right wing news sources. Voter ID laws are attempts to fight "voter fraud," while the NYC soda ban is just another example of "nanny statism."

The next Fox News segment or WSJ editorial I see decrying voter suppression will be the first.

 

[Open Source]

Why should something be illegal as long as it's not hurting anyone else or infringing on someone else's rights?

Does the extent of my freedom really depend on what the government thinks is good for me?

 

[toxicgonzo]

Give me 32oz. sodas or give me death!

Don't tread on me.

 

[distantmantra]

Just increase the price people should pay for soda and they'll drink less, at least some of them.

We tried that here in Washington state, but the soda industry got a huge initiative on the ballot and convinced the voters to overturn it.

 

[Eidan]

its about government telling us what we can or can't do. even at the basic level. yeah i know this sounds a bit overdramatic but you have to look at the bigger picture.

this is not about fat kids or obesity. it's about choice.

i find it odd that i live in a country that's touted as the land of the free and i can't buy a god damn 20oz soda at a movie theater (yes also a bit overdramatic)

Of course the government is telling you what you can or can't do. Telling you what you can or can't do is one of its primary responsibilities.

 

[jadedm17]

Reminds me of that skinny blonde mother who was saying we need massive taxes on fast food - especially value items - and offer cheap, healthy alternatives. I still can't quiete figure out how this would fix anything.

 

[zephervack]

Why should something be illegal as long as it's not hurting anyone else or infringing on someone else's rights?

So many illegal things would be legal if they followed this. They dont think like that

 

[Open Source]

So many illegal things would be legal if they followed this. They dont think like that

I want to elect some people who do think like that.

I have a dream. Married gay people drinking 20 oz sodas with a closet full of Glocks.

 

[echoshifting]

I want to elect some people who do think like that.

You and me and everyone I know. Well, maybe not my mom...but everyone else! It's still not going to happen, sadly.

 

[Davidion]

Reminds me of that skinny blonde mother who was saying we need massive taxes on fast food - especially value items - and offer cheap, healthy alternatives. I still can't quiete figure out how this would fix anything.

Somehow everyone seemed to manage to miss that this "ban" equates to just that, a consumption tax on larger servings of soda. You can literally just buy more smaller sodas, at what would ostensibly be a price premium.

You addressed your own suggestion.

 

[JB1981]

Oh jeez

 

[Foxy Fox 39]

I approve of this just to see what happens. Like a social experiment. I hope the ban means you can only buy more than one medium at the grocery store.

 

[sarcastor]

Of course the government is telling you what you can or can't do. Telling you what you can or can't do is one of its primary responsibilities.

so in this case its telling me that i'm fat and that I have no common sense or will power?

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Look at any of the right wing news sources. Voter ID laws are attempts to fight "voter fraud," while the NYC soda ban is just another example of "nanny statism."

The next Fox News segment or WSJ editorial I see decrying voter suppression will be the first.

Oh, I thought you meant specific people on GAF. Carry on.

 

[AlphaSnake]

I approve of this just to see what happens. Like a social experiment. I hope the ban means you can only buy more than one medium at the grocery store.

This doesn't affect grocery stores. Read the article. It's for restaurants, theaters, etc. with self-serve fountain stations.

You can still buy your 2 liters at stores.

 

[Parallacs]

The watermelon and corn ones kind of bother me because they are falsely misrepresenting the content by putting cubes of white, refined sugar next to them. That is a far cry from the natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables in terms of healthiness.

"Refined sugar" just means they purified out the mollases from sugar cane (sucrose). You can make refined sugar from corn (fructose, HFCS). Both molecules have the same activations on your body.

The pictures are great for showing people how much sugar is in soda and candy and because the healthier options will fill the person up faster.

 

[Red Blaster]

sorry can't hear you over the sound of Mitt Romney losing

 

[Foxy Fox 39]

This doesn't affect grocery stores. Read the article. It's for restaurants, theaters, etc. with self-serve fountain stations.

You can still buy your 2 liters at stores.

That's why I said I hope. I wish the ban were in effect EVERYWHERE.

 

[KingGondo]

sorry can't hear you over the sound of Mitt Romney losing

I like you so much better outside of Best-GAF.

 

[Gilby]

Will it really though? What's to stop someone who would've gotten a large from just getting a second medium?

Social anxiety?

 

[Eidan]

so in this case its telling me that i'm fat and that I have no common sense or will power?

One of the roles of the government is to improve public health.

People tend to only buy one of any item when they go out to eat.

Soft drinks are popular, and linked to obesity.

So one of the least intrusive ways to improve overall health outcomes is to reduce the maximum size of the portion, because most people won't get a second portion. If someone really wants to (because they're fat and have no common sense or will power), they are free to do so.

What's the problem?

 

[yankeeforever2]

Come to Long Island we have full size sodas!

 

[Open Source]

so in this case its telling me that i'm fat and that I have no common sense or will power?

It's telling you that whether you are fat or not is somehow the government's business.

 

[Earthstrike]

This is awful, Im a healthy person and all, but the best way to make prople healthier, is to educate them, get them to go running etc.

This is just an overreach of power.

Yeah, but america's education system is broken.

 

[Haly]

so in this case its telling me that i'm fat and that I have no common sense or will power?

Well...

Statistically you have a 35.7% chance of being obese.

 

[OriginofHysteria]

So I guess the 'you're good looking no matter how you are' campaign is out the window?

 

[Davidion]

so in this case its telling me that i'm fat and that I have no common sense or will power?

I don't know if you're fat, but if you're complaining about a "ban" that doesn't actually ban anything and are unwilling to buy two of something or go to another venue to purchase a couple of sodas...

 

[scorcho]

while overhanded, i applaud the effort as a means to curb ever growing childhood obesity and diabetes rates within the five boroughs. this measure isn't intended to stop those who really, really want to drink 90oz. of soda every hour, every day. it will curb the sugar intake of those who mindlessly finishes whatever large drink comes with their meal package.

down with obesity, down with diabetes, down with lazy parenting, boo to the laughable minimum wage and the allure of cheap fast food (or just cut corn subsidies, kthnx)!

I don't know if you're fat, but if you're complaining about a "ban" that doesn't actually ban anything and are unwilling to buy two of something or go to another venue to purchase a couple of sodas...

clearly this extra activity is a stain on our freedoms and liberties, though.

 

[Slayven]

Lazy governmenting.

 

[Deleted member 20415]

Now you will all love New Jersey... I can't wait to drink my freedom sodas from across the Hudson and laugh! AND LAUGH!

 

[Open Source]

I don't know if you're fat, but if you're complaining about a "ban" that doesn't actually ban anything and are unwilling to buy two of something or go to another venue to purchase a couple of sodas...

From those scaremongers at Associated Press:

NYC bans big, sugary drinks at eateries, theaters
NYC health board bans super-sized, sugary drinks at restaurants, cafeterias, concession stands
NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City's Board of Health opened up a new, experimental front in the war on obesity Thursday, passing a rule banning sales of big sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, concession stands and other eateries.
The regulation, which was proposed in the spring by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and approved by panel of health experts after several months of review, puts a 16-ounce size limit on cups and bottles of non-diet soda, sweetened teas, and other calorie-packed beverages.
The ban will apply in fast-food joints, movie houses and Broadway theaters, workplace cafeterias, and most other places selling prepared food.

 

[Czigga]

I want to elect some people who do think like that.

I have a dream. Married gay people drinking 20 oz sodas with a closet full of Glocks.

Not sure if you're joking, but that sounds awesome

 

[sarcastor]

One of the roles of the government is to improve public health.

People tend to only buy one of any item when they go out to eat. Soft drinks are popular, and linked to obesity. So one of the least intrusive ways to improve overall health outcomes is to reduce the maximum size of the portion, because most people won't get a second portion. If someone really wants to (because they're fat and have no common sense or will power), they are free to do so.

What's the problem?

the problem is that there are dozens of other things on the menu which are equally fattening or worse

the problem is that stores can just offer free refills so the sugar consumption will be the same.

the problem is that at the end of the day, people will still be fat. this new bill will not really help much in the long run cause theres too much fatty foods and drinks still available. And the government just decided to give itself just a little bit more power to intervene in your daily life cause they believe you have lack the intelligence and will power to run your own life.

and judging by the levels of obesity in this country, people do really suck maybe we do need a nanny state...

 

[commedieu]

So futile. Gov has no business in this. Its a waste of our fucking money, yet again, to try and apply morals of others to morals of others.