Nothing will get people talking and riled up more than a proposed ban on soda in NYC. Mayor Bloomberg (Independent) announced this week that he is proposing to ban the drinking of soda, sizes 16oz. and more.
New York City is known for its hip and trendy nightlife and for the people who don’t take nothing from nobody. So obviously when news surfaced about Bloomberg’s plan, fury enraged the people of the city, and continues to boil. However, not everyone is ready to fight back against this ban. Several commentators and locals have praised Bloomberg for his soda-ban initiative and see this as a good and much needed change.
Myself, being a two-year-and-some-change New Yorker, have flourished in this city as a Liberal who is willing to always look at both sides of an issue. However, once I saw the beginning stages of news coverage for this ban, I did not feel upset, but relieved; finally, some help. I am a full believer in the First Amendment, (which those who oppose this ban are retaliating with), but the First Amendment does not protect against government bans on soda, cigarettes, use of seat belts, etc. It merely allows freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and the right to assemble and petition the government. I love all of these freedoms and am blessed to be in a country that protects them, but there comes a point when we as a people need to work together to solve our issues on health, without hiding behind the First Amendment.
I understand the argument that people will just buy two 16oz. sodas instead of one 32 oz. soda to fulfill their desires, but I disagree with that argument. If the price of soda rises (such as did cigarettes), and the quantity in each soda decreases (no more than 16oz.), then less people will be willing to buy the sugary drink in large quantities. The majority of the time, one can buy a two-liter bottle of soda for the same price as a 20oz. bottle of soda, therefore, they opt for the larger container. This rationing practice reminds me of the blindfold diet, in which study results showed that when participants were blindfolded while eating, they ate significantly less food then when they were not blindfolded. Conclusion: when blindfolded, people do not use their eyes but their stomachs to determine their full. Same goes in the case of soda intake: if a person only has a small 12oz or 16oz soda, that is all they will drink. In time, their urge and dependency on soda will decrease, thus reducing their sugary substance intake altogether, and with diet and exercise, elongating their life and health.
With over one-third of U.S. adults suffering from obesity and 48.2 million people are smokers, something needs to be done in order to keep Americans and those all around the world, healthy. No one likes to have their rights banned or rationed or rules to be in place after a long time of doing it their way, but we have to remember that change and laws are what we sometimes need in this society. There were protests and riots when the seatbelt law came about and when smoking was banned in restaurants and establishments. This is just another law we need to help and protect us.