NY proposes ban on oversized soft drinks

[Misfit]

NY proposes ban on oversized soft drinks | thetelegraph.com.au

NEW York mayor Michael Bloomberg is proposing a ban on the sale of large soft drinks and other sugary drinks in the city's restaurants, delis and movie theatres in the hopes of combating obesity - an expansion of his administration's efforts to encourage healthy behaviour by limiting residents' choices.

The proposal - expected to be announced today in a City Hall briefing - would take 20-ounce (590ml) soft drink bottles off deli shelves and super-sized sugary soft drinks off fast-food menus. The latest health effort by the administration has spark accusations city officials are overstepping into matters best left to consumers.

"There they go again," said Stefan Friedman, spokesman for the New York City Beverage Association, who called the proposal "zealous".

But City Hall officials, citing a 2006 study, said sugary drinks are the largest driver of rising calorie consumption and obesity. They said that sweet drinks are linked to long-term weight gain and increased rates of diabetes and heart disease.

 

[Dupontster]

Damn shame they don't have anything better to do up there..."I know, I know, lets ban Big Gulps....All in favor raise yo hands"

 

[Misfit]

Damn shame they don't have anything better to do up there..."I know, I know, lets ban Big Gulps....All in favor raise yo hands"

:fistpump:

 

[vraiblonde]

The ban would apply only to drinks that contain more than 25 calories per 8 ounces.

But apparently the ban doesn't apply to beer and you can still get a 20 oz draft at Village bars?

"We don't care if you get hammered, dude, we just don't want you fat. It's unsightly."

 

[kwillia]

But apparently the ban doesn't apply to beer and you can still get a 20 oz draft at Village bars?

"We don't care if you get hammered, dude, we just don't want you fat. It's unsightly."

And you can buy as many 16 oz. of soda as you want... so much for going green with all the extra cups, lids and straws floating around NY.

 

[kwillia]

And you can buy as many 16 oz. of soda as you want... so much for going green with all the extra cups, lids and straws floating around NY.

Oh crap... now that I've vocalized this loophole, NY'ers will soon have to start scanning in their drivers license to ensure they haven't exceeded the daily, weekly, monthly limit for soda just as we have to do for cold meds...

 

[itsbob]

Today show yesterday the three legal experts all agreed that this was a great first step... If this is "expert" legal minds we're all screwed.

Not one voiced concern over the government overstepping our how we as adults should be able to decide what we want to drink, it's apparent they're all drinking Big Gulps of Liberal KoolAid, why can't I drink my Big Gulp of soda.

 

[vraiblonde]

Oh crap... now that I've vocalized this loophole, NY'ers will soon have to start scanning in their drivers license to ensure they haven't exceeded the daily, weekly, monthly limit for soda just as we have to do for cold meds...

My brilliant idea would be to set up glucose meters for mandatory daily testing. Anyone who exceeds the limit gets thrown in a fat farm for a week of non-stop treadmilling until I'm satisfied that they understand how serious I am about their dietary health.

If you're going to be a fascist, at least do it right.

 

[libertytyranny]

Had they tried this crap when I was preggo, I would have shanked someone.


What drives me batty, is that they still try this crap in the face of scientific proof it doesn't do any good. They keep on doing it. Despite all of the evidence. Its just like the DARE program. Useless, ineffective, and yet, still lauded like its a success. Hasn't anyone pointed them to the studies about banning sodas in school? doesn't affect their consumption a single iota. Some even suggest it may increase it.

 

[mAlice]

I think they should go one step further, and require that everyone drink their soda outside...10 feet from the door, or not on business property at all...especially hospital or medical center property.

 

[MMDad]

I'm sure there will be exemptions for diet sodas, right? And healthy things like juice? Maybe the real good campaign donor soda bottlers can get hardship exemptions so they can still sell the big sodas.

What about Gatorade? Will you have to show proof that you're an athlete to buy it?

 

[vraiblonde]

I think they should go one step further, and require that everyone drink their soda outside...10 feet from the door, or not on business property at all...especially hospital or medical center property.

I completely agree. Fat people are contagious, you know.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/25/health/25cnd-fat.html

 

[MMDad]

I think they should go one step further, and require that everyone drink their soda outside...10 feet from the door, or not on business property at all...especially hospital or medical center property.

Since I'm an ex-smoker and an ex-sugary soda drinker, that sounds like a GREAT idea!

(do I really need the sarcasm smiley?)

 

[Pete]

Why don't they just cut to the chase and ban fat people?

 

[itsbob]

Why don't they just cut to the chase and ban fat people?

Under Obama's new laws can't they just kill them??

State that Fat People are a danger to our country, and take them out with BellyBuster Bombs..

 

[Retrodeb54]

Take soda off the eligible food list for food stamp purchases and watch the sales drop. Mom and Dad are not going to give up cash to buy them, that's needed for smokes and beer. It will then be "Drink ice water kids, its good for you."

Well the point of the 16 oz move is to help the overweight kids and adults right? This could make a dent too. *shrugs*

 

[mAlice]

Take soda off the eligible food list for food stamp purchases and watch the sales drop. Mom and Dad are not going to give up cash to buy them, that's needed for smokes and beer. It will then be "Drink ice water kids, its good for you."

Well the point of the 16 oz move is to help the overweight kids and adults right? This could make a dent too. *shrugs*

Soda's are an eligible food stamp item? Really?

 

[libertytyranny]

Soda's are an eligible food stamp item? Really?

Additional Information

“Junk Food” & Luxury Items
The Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act) defines eligible food as any food or food product for home consumption and also includes seeds and plants which produce food for consumption by SNAP households. The Act precludes the following items from being purchased with SNAP benefits: alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, hot food and any food sold for on-premises consumption. Nonfood items such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, medicines and vitamins, household supplies, grooming items, and cosmetics, also are ineligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.


Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream are food items and are therefore eligible items
Seafood, steak, and bakery cakes are also food items and are therefore eligible items

Since the current definition of food is a specific part of the Act, any change to this definition would require action by a member of Congress. Several times in the history of SNAP, Congress had considered placing limits on the types of food that could be purchased with program benefits. However, they concluded that designating foods as luxury or non-nutritious would be administratively costly and burdensome. Further detailed information about the challenges of restricting the use of SNAP benefits can be found here:

Report -- Implications of Restricting the use of
Food Stamp Benefits


Energy Drinks
When considering the eligibility of energy drinks, and other branded products, the primary determinant is the type of product label chosen by the manufacturer to conform to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines:


Energy drinks that have a nutrition facts label are eligible foods
Energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements, and are therefore not eligible


Live Animals
Live animals may not be purchased with SNAP benefits.


Pumpkins, Holiday Gift Baskets, and Special Occasion Cakes
Pumpkins are edible and eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. However, inedible gourds and pumpkins that are used solely for ornamental purposes are not eligible items.

Gift baskets that contain both food and non-food items, are not eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits if the value of the non-food items exceeds 50 percent of the purchase price.

Items such as birthday and other special occasion cakes are eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits as long as the value of non-edible decorations does not exceed 50 percent of the purchase price of the cake.



Eligible Food Items




ridiculous.

 

[Retrodeb54]

I said in another thread, do away with cookies, sodas, pies, ice cream, chips frozen high dollar quick fix large family meals like Stouffers and many more.

Allow necessities t-paper, soap(bar),off brand shampoo, off brand laundry
detergent....

 

[libertytyranny]

I said in another thread, do away with cookies, sodas, pies, ice cream, chips frozen high dollar quick fix large family meals like Stouffers and many more.

Allow necessities t-paper, soap(bar),off brand shampoo, off brand laundry
detergent....

How about they drop off a bag of rice, some dried beans, flour, salt and sugar and a gallon of milk? Like mom always said, if you won't eat it, you're not hungry enough.