NYC Soda Bans

Written by: Tarun Aurora

It goes without opposition that almost one-quarter of the American diet consists of junk food.  The fast food industry is one of the largest in the world and still maintaining elevating momentum.  The CDC and NIH have released numerous reports detailing the health hazards of consuming such foods and making fast food part of a primary diet.  Junk food companies have responded by posting calories of each of their menu items and by offering “healthier” choices as part of their menu, such as the baggie of apples given in each new McDonald’s Kids’ Meal.  Of particular interest in the fast food diets of Americans is the consumption of sodas and sugary drinks.  Since 2000, over 8% of daily caloric intake has been from sodas and carbonated beverages.  In today’s market, sodas are created from ingredients including high fructose corn syrup, caffeine, natural flavors, and phosphoric acid.  In an effort to curb the consumption of soda beverages in his constituency, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has passed legislation to ban the sale of sodas larger than 16 ounces in restaurants.  Before the ban, restaurants were free to sell sodas of any size, from as small as 12 ounces to as large as 24 ounces.  Under the new law, however, consumers are still able to receive refills and even purchase multiple 16 ounce beverages.  As expected, controversy has surfaced across New York City as well as the rest of the country.  Many Americans feel the new soda ban infringes on citizens’ right to choose what they consume, while others defend its healthy intentions.  Either way, Mayor Bloomberg’s drastic measure to improve health in his city has looming implications.

Although the ban has been received with much uproar and resentment, especially by native New Yorkers, many across the nation are applauding Mayor Bloomberg on his efforts to improve personal health.  Countless health studies have proven that the overconsumption of sugars and “empty” calories is linked to obesity and diabetes.  Many agree that Mayor Bloomberg is attempting to reduce the risk of his constituents falling victim to such preventable diseases.  With both high income and low income Americans leading stressful and busy lives, the consumption of sodas, especially in conjunction with fast food, has become an easy and affordable part of life.  The food industry makes billions of dollars each year with the use of mass marketing and accessibility of junk food to the public.  Bloomberg is attempting not to eliminate the consumption of such beverages, but merely curb it to create long-term improvement in the lives of citizens.

Many Americans do agree that obesity is increasingly becoming a need for our government to address.  As of 2010, over 35% of adults and 17% of children are obese, with little to nothing being done to address the issue.  The Healthy People 2010 initiative put forth by the government asking each state to reduce obesity prevalence to 15% was met with abysmal results.  In fact, over 5 states increased their prevalence to over 30%.  However, we have seen the success of the government’s strong role in helping to decrease cigarette use in America with the implementation of warning labels on all tobacco products, the decrease in cigarette advertisements, and hike in sales taxes for such products.  Mayor Bloomberg’s ban is a small step in having the government take responsibility for an increasing epidemic. 

            Aside from the effort to improve the overall health of New York City, many citizens are viewing Mayor Bloomberg’s ban as a threat to personal rights and choices.  “Who is the Mayor to decide what I put in my body?” - a thought that resounds almost unanimously amongst those who oppose the soda ban.  According to most citizens, especially those affected by the ban, the choice to drink a 24-ounce soda versus a 16-ounce soda is theirs and theirs alone.  “If we give the right of the government to tell us what and what not to drink, what’s next?  Are they going to come into our homes and tell our kids when to sleep and who to talk to?” asks one frustrated citizen.  Opposers are concerned, and may rightly be so.

Still an ongoing debate, it is unclear whether the health care of an individual is the business of the government or not.  The government has the right to tax, however, and many citizens are claiming that a tax on sodas would have been a better solution to the problem.  With a tax on sodas and candies, such as the one placed on cigarettes, consumers would be discouraged from purchasing the products but still have the ability to do so.  A complete ban on sodas larger than 16 ounces plays out to many as the militant hand of the government attempting to strong arm the lives of the common folk.  Even furthermore, many restaurant and shop owners are concerned as to the future of their businesses.  Although soda sales are not the primary source of income, many fear of the future bans the mayor may place on food products, and how that may affect sales.

Clearly, Mayor Bloomberg’s recent ban has stirred waters across the nation and brought attention to both the extent of the government’s reach into personal matters and the need for intervention in the field of health care.  The ban implemented by the New York Mayor arguably infringes upon the personal rights and choices of the American citizen.  The government should not be able to dictate what goes into the mouth of each citizen.  However, others assert that such choices lead to the downfall of the American people through soaring health care costs.  In 2010, the average American paid $1,470 more toward the care of citizens brought into hospitals seeking care for ailments related to obesity versus other reasons.  The future of the ban depends on the reactions of fellow lawmakers and politicians across the nation. 

Is it time for our government to take control of the obesity problem by banning large sodas and perhaps even all other types of junk foods or is the choice of what to consume left solely to the individual?

Who should take control of the American obesity epidemic?