Fresh off the success of The Official Abortion Debate Club Thread, which miraculously didn't degenerate into an ugly mess, it's time to settle the Soda Rights Issue. I expect this one to be much more controversial, as carbonated beverages are near and dear to all of our high-fructose corn syrup encrusted hearts. Although I rarely drink soda, I recognize the fact that most of us would promptly dehydrate to death if we were limited to smaller portion sizes in movie theaters and fast food restaurants. I was born with a rare genetic mutation that enables me to survive by consuming a substance known as dihydrogen oxide instead of soda. (It's basically a flavorless, sugarless, non-carbonated version of soda.) The courts have spoken, and struck down former Mayor Bloomberg's draconian soda size restrictions before they went into effect in our beloved New York City. But the courts of public opinion? Well, that's where you folks come in. Sound off in the comments below! Let us know what YOU think about the soda size restrictions the former mayor tried to enact. Choice 1: Opposes it on the grounds of individual liberty. Choice 2: Opposes it on the grounds of it being excessive government regulation. Choice 3: Supports it on public health grounds. Choice 4: Supports it on taxpayer grounds (obese and diabetic people on Medicare & Medicaid pass their healthcare costs along to the taxpayers.)
If people are dumb enough to drink huge sodas constantly / multiple times a day and get diabetes that's their problem and they'll live shorter lives as a result. The general public IS pretty stupid, sodas are one of the most unhealthy things you can consume, yet people buy it all the time. These regulations are dumb because if somebody really wants a big soda they'll just order 2 of them instead. The problem with the businesses is that they will still charge the same amount for the smaller soda size to preserve their profits, so essentially regulating the size only hurts the people more and gives these companies higher profits as a result. It's essentially a soda tax. It's lose lose. Let humans make their own choices. If they get fat or die, it only strengthens the herd and makes them less likely to reproduce. Drink water.
As long as you're paying for your own diabetes medication, drink all the malted battery acid you wish.
A size restriction is the socially responsible thing to do. If you feel absolutely compelled to drink 128 oz of Mr. Pibb, buy two.
Even one 12-ounce soda a day is still a lot of sugar; so I agree with your last statement the most, that people should drink way more water and way less soda. I think people just drink whatever they're given- if they were given less, only the biggest gluttons would go for seconds and thirds to get up to the current levels. I don't think it hurts the consumer like you say; because although it is somewhat of a "soda tax" (with the money going to private companies, aka "helping the job creators"), that extra cost to consumers also leads to health benefits that I think vastly outweigh the lost pleasure of drinking that extra soda. As for the thinning the heard argument, I don't think that's realistic at all. People reproduce mostly in their 20s and early 30s. Almost nobody dies of obesity-related diseases before they hit their 40s, even if they also smoke. By then, 99% of the people that would've reproduced have done it already. Strongly agree with your "drink water" statement though.
Fat people annoy me so I think it is funny when stuff like this pisses them off. That said, I'm against it. Obviously it is a stupid idea. Are we going to start limiting chip bag sizes too? You can get obese from drinking too much grape juice. How about beer? You can't force people to not be ignorant and give a shit about their health
Agreed. Ban 40s! That's TOTALLY going to reduce alcohol consumption because people absolutely won't buy a 6 pack instead LOL. It's silly because the majority of people that would be ordering large sodas will buy 24 packs of soda or 2 liter bottles at home. You can't combat obesity like that because people will drink it anyway, on their own time, or simply order 2 sodas. Thinking that limiting soda size at fast food restaurants (of all places) where you are already eating absolute garbage food, which pretty much guarantees to shorten your life, is flat out stupid. Claiming social responsibility is pathetic. What about individual responsibility for your own actions? This is something that is completely vanishing from society. Any adult human should be able to make their own decisions and live with the consequences. Instead of penalizing folks for drinking lots of soda, encourage/reward them to drink healthier drinks or join gyms or decrease their cholesterol on their physicals. OR make them pay out of pocket for their treatment so it isn't on the taxpayer's dollar. It's a piss poor strategy, and an unrealistic solution to the problem. I don't think the world should cater to the stupid. Same thing applies to smokers. Instead of constantly increasing cigarette taxes, reward folks for quitting, or make them pay out of pocket when they develop lung cancer.
Why not ban alcohol and force folks to get on the pot? Cut down on alcoholism, diabetes and a much safer driving pool. Less rape in the winter too. _
They need to start educating people on nutrition better. That would be a good start. Most people have no clue how to read a food label. Of course some people don't give a shit, but some people are just ignorant. It amazes me how much people care about appearance with clothes, tattoos, cars, etc, but don't care about how their actual body looks or their health. Then the ones who do have good bodies are considered "vain". LOL
Who is "they"? Parents should teach their children. There's no excuse for ignorance in the internet age. I don't want the government spending my tax dollars on some failed nutritional awareness program because some lazy fat asses don't care to take care of themselves or their children. Let them be fat. It's their own fucking choice. Maybe they like it?
If you know anything about nutrition you would know that limiting soda size has nothing to do with anything. I could cut on soda if I wanted to, I could also bulk on soda if I felt so inclined. I am 100% against this, if people want to drink a lot of soda, let them. Its not the main reason they are a high bodyfat percentage.
Pretty much this and forcing kids to eat certain foods is moronic, and its also moronic to limit what they can eat. Its ultimately about caloric intake, thats all what it comes down to, how many calories an indidvidual takes in vs how much there body requires a day. If you go over, then you gain bodyfat, if you go under you lose bodyfat. It has absolutely nothing to do with the foods you eat, like I said you can get shredded off of soda and fast food if you wanted to, people are just clueless, (although I dont blame em completely, the schools never really taught much about nutrition, instead forced gym class down our throats.)
I agree with you in theory, but if the parents don't know shit about it and are fat asses themselves then they are going to teach their children the same habits. Habits rooted in childhood are hard to overcome. We already have health classes. It wouldn't take much to implement something simple. The government is going to waste your tax dollars for the rest of your life....i've accepted that lol You're right as far as body composition. IIFYM brah. Lol. But just having a good physique doesn't necessarily equate to good health. Usually it does. But micronutrients matter to your overall health too.
Just because the government is going to waste my money doesn't mean I should support more wasteful spending. People need to be more concerned with what the government is doing, not less.
