I have so much to say about New York City’s proposed ban on large size sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters, sports arenas, delis, and fast food franchises, that I don’t know where to start. 

For one, do we really need a governing body to do something for us that should be within the limits of our own self control!?!  I’m outraged, and insulted. 

First they are trying to tell us how much soda we are allowed to consume – what’s next?  Limiting drive thrus to serve you no more than once a month?  How about enforcing a law which allows a person to only eat ten French fries per week? 

Have people lost all sense of moderation that the government sees us as being incapable of deciding for ourselves how much we can and can’t eat? (or in this case drink)  Apparently our leaders think that we, the general public, are just too stupid to know when enough is enough.  Thanks for the insult, Mayor Bloomberg.

If people want to consume more of any substance than they “should”, that’s their prerogative.  This kind of legislation will do nothing other than cause cola companies to generate more plastic bottles to pollute our planet, and allow them to get richer at the same time.  Sales won’t decline. People will buy just as much soda or sugary juice as before.  Except now they will have to buy it in smaller sizes.  This leads to a higher production cost per unit for the manufacturer, ballpark, or restaurant; and in turn that cost will be passed along to the consumer.  Coke and Pepsi must be loving this legislation.  They stand to profit off of it, for sure. 

If this proposal passes, who is to say that other cities and states won’t adopt the same measures?  And if they do, there will be no more picking up a two liter bottle of Coke at the pizza parlor on your way home to share with the family.  Why? Because Chinese food establishments and pizza places are restaurants, and they will now only be allowed to stock bottles 16 ounces or less of sweet beverages.

There will be no more “super sizing it” either.  On this point, I see both the good and the bad.  First of all, I really don’t think there’s a need for anyone to consume more than 16 ounces of soda in one sitting.  That’s just gluttony.  If you’re still thirsty after having that much pop to drink, then perhaps you should hydrate with some good old H20. 

On the other hand, when people order the largest beverage size, they usually get it with ice, when it’s served in a cup.  Ice takes up at least half of the volume if not more.  So in reality, even if you sprang for 32 ounces of fizzy liquid sugar that could clean battery terminals or remove rust, you’re still left with about 16 ounces of government okayed soda to imbibe.

By the way, free refills would be still be allowed when you order, so you can call it the proverbial back door to working your way around this legislation.

Also, this ban is discriminatory.  It does not apply to diet sodas or drinks.  That’s like saying if you drink as much diet soda as you want to, it’s perfectly fine, perfectly safe, and it won’t make you fat.  That is a completely false statement.  In large quantities, diet soda has been shown to both promote obesity and the artificial sweeteners increase drinkers’ risk of developing diabetes.  And if that doesn’t concern you, what about the increased risk of stroke, cancer, and kidney damage?  But I guess if you aren’t “fat”, according to Mayor Bloomberg, you won’t mind having chemo or getting dialysis.

I don’t want any governing body force feeding me or preventing me from making personal choices.  Instead of legislating common sense, maybe moderation should be practiced on the personal level.  Although Bloomberg’s bubbly beverage ban won’t be affecting the town where I live, I am opposed to the precedent that this could set for future legislation.

For the record, I have never, ever supersized a soda in my life.  There’s just no need.  But I don’t believe in a supersize government either.

http://rumson.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban-a92c0530

http://woodbridge.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban-a92c0530

http://middletown-nj.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban-a92c0530

http://littllesilver.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban-a92c0530

http://matawan-aberdeen.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban-a92c0530

http://redbank.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban-a92c0530

http://bayside.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban-5d08eaf5

http://hillsborough.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban

http://marlboro-coltsneck.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban-a92c0530

http://manalapan.patch.com/blog_posts/bloombergs-bubbly-beverage-ban-a92c0530

The blog post and additional comments can also be found on Patch at the above links.

The version of the blog that went national on Patch is the one that was published in Rumson-Fair Haven.   This is where the majority of readers' comments can be found, as well.

Subsequently, another writer was intrigued by my blog, and expressed her own thoughts on the matter in a blog of her own.  I am very flattered, and think she is extremely courteous for mentioning that my original blog inspired hers.  Here is a link to her blog:  http://rumson.patch.com/blog_posts/will-bloombergs-beverage-ban-boost-americas-health#comment_3579555