It’s ironic that I came across this [fantastic] picture yesterday on Facebook since I just read an article in the Washington City Paper stating that DC may enact a ban on sodas larger than 16 oz…similar to the ban Mayor Bloomberg enacted in New York City.
Although this is not a law currently up for debate, at last Thursday’s debate for an at-large Council seat, four of the seven candidates supported a ban. This was an issue brought up last October and with the upcoming at-large election, it looks like the debate is starting to resurface again.
Let me just say…..I am 100% in favor of this ban! The amount of sugar in a soda that large is gross…just look at the picture! Plus, now that our paychecks are shrinking because of taxes from Obamacare, we (the citizens and government) should be doing more to prevent healthcare costs from increasing. Sodas do not have one positive health benefit: excessive sugar causes obesity; obesity leads to diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancers, etc. These health issues are preventable with smart and healthy food choices….so let’s encourage and support everyone to make these choices!
Would you support a soda ban?
That’s just horrible! So much sugar in those drinks! And light stuff is not better, containing aspartame that is carcinogenic! I think it’s important for people to know about those things and become conscious consumers! Great post! xx
These sugary drinks, especially at that size, are absolutely bad for you. Just as cigarettes, alcohol, eating tons of fried foods, desserts, and never exercising, are also bad for you. That does not mean the government should intervene in matters that are ultimately a personal choice. It’s a precedent that leads to a slippery slope – it starts with sugary beverages and then it becomes what you can wear, watch on tv, look at on the internet – who knows! If you want to help people be healthier, I think the better pathway is education. Start by teaching children in school how to properly take care of their bodies through healthy diet and exercise, and show them what happens if they don’t. It’s simple. If people choose to disregard what they learn and ultimately want to make decisions that lead to obesity and heart disease or worse, it is not the government’s business. Period.