In New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, passed a city law supporting the ban against fountain drinks bigger than 16 oz. Bloomberg believes this will help curb obesity rates. The ban will include all public places like, restaurants, street carts and movie theaters. The only exceptions to the law would be convenience stores. Bloomberg thinks this ban will be a huge step in reducing obesity and that New York City will just be the first with other cities to follow. On the other hand, sixty percent of New Yorkers think this plan is a bad idea. Critics say that small businesses could lose sales. It also takes away New Yorkers freedom as consumers to buy what they want. This is not to say that nothing should be done to help curb obesity rates. In my opinion, I believe that this law has potential but Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg should take it to the next step and ban all things that are extra-large like large fries or large ice cream cones.
On the one hand, Dr. Joel A. Forman says, “The evidence strongly supports a relationship between sweet drinks and obesity.” 5,000 people each year die from health problems related to obesity in New York City. By banning the 16oz sodas maybe it could curb obesity but it wouldn’t be long term because of all the loopholes in the law. I could go still purchase a soda larger than 16oz at any convenience store or I could just buy two sodas. Banning certain sized soda is not going to help the situation. People also need to have some personal responsibility. Bloomberg could also take a different route and add health and nutrition classes in the public school system. That way more people would be educated on the subject and be able to make better decisions for themselves.
Critics of the ban have noted that people need to be personally responsible for their actions. Being personally responsible for what you eat is a huge part of staying healthy. If you look throughout history, items like cigarettes and alcohol have been banned for minors or people under 21. At first no one liked the idea of the government controlling those items but over the years it has become widely understood why these items were banned. Smoking cigarettes is no longer the most popular thing for people to do and no parent is complaining that their child cannot smoke a cigarette legally. The drinking age is 21 and this has helped prevent drunk driving and has helped dropped death rates due to alcohol poisoning. If cigarettes and alcohol have helped drop death rates than banning certain food could help curb obesity rates.
I believe that the mayor of New York City does have a good idea and I do believe the law should be passed but he needs to take it to the next step if he really wants to help curb obesity and lower the death rate. I think the most important part of banning soda bigger than 16oz is not that the fact of banning soda. It’s the fact that a city leader is becoming aware of obesity and diabetes problems and is taking a step to fix it. Banning certain foods will not take away New York City citizens personal freedom but make them more aware of what they are consuming.
On the one hand, Dr. Joel A. Forman says, “The evidence strongly supports a relationship between sweet drinks and obesity.” 5,000 people each year die from health problems related to obesity in New York City. By banning the 16oz sodas maybe it could curb obesity but it wouldn’t be long term because of all the loopholes in the law. I could go still purchase a soda larger than 16oz at any convenience store or I could just buy two sodas. Banning certain sized soda is not going to help the situation. People also need to have some personal responsibility. Bloomberg could also take a different route and add health and nutrition classes in the public school system. That way more people would be educated on the subject and be able to make better decisions for themselves.
Critics of the ban have noted that people need to be personally responsible for their actions. Being personally responsible for what you eat is a huge part of staying healthy. If you look throughout history, items like cigarettes and alcohol have been banned for minors or people under 21. At first no one liked the idea of the government controlling those items but over the years it has become widely understood why these items were banned. Smoking cigarettes is no longer the most popular thing for people to do and no parent is complaining that their child cannot smoke a cigarette legally. The drinking age is 21 and this has helped prevent drunk driving and has helped dropped death rates due to alcohol poisoning. If cigarettes and alcohol have helped drop death rates than banning certain food could help curb obesity rates.
I believe that the mayor of New York City does have a good idea and I do believe the law should be passed but he needs to take it to the next step if he really wants to help curb obesity and lower the death rate. I think the most important part of banning soda bigger than 16oz is not that the fact of banning soda. It’s the fact that a city leader is becoming aware of obesity and diabetes problems and is taking a step to fix it. Banning certain foods will not take away New York City citizens personal freedom but make them more aware of what they are consuming.