New
York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced his intention to ban sugar-sweetened
sodas in servings over 16oz in restaurants, fast food outlets, street stands,
and sporting arenas. Some are up
in arms, but my arms are up in celebration. This is a bold and courageous step forward in America’s battle
against obesity.
The
concern about the nanny state is legitimate in general, but misattributed in
this case. The ban will not
restrict freedom of choice, as everyone will have the same access to soda as
before. The mayor is not telling
New Yorkers what to drink. Rather,
he’s reminding them that soda is unhealthy, a fact no one disputes, and
limiting a profiteering food industry from swindling customers into buying
significantly more soda than they actually want. 32 ounces of soda for one person in one sitting is just too
much. Period, point-blank. If you
really, really want that much though, then prove it, and buy two.
Jon
Stewart mocked the proposal as draconian and likely ineffective. He is clearly missing the point. Study after study has shown us that
people are terrible at determining in advance how much food or drink is likely
to satisfy them as well as when they are actually satiated. The result is that people tend to order
whatever they see as the best deal and will consume whatever is in front of
them. Sure, some people just want
more soda. But the science seems
to indicate that many folks will be happy with a 16-ouncer and will keep it
moving.
Coca-Cola
responded to the proposal by saying that New Yorkers expect and deserve better and
can make their own choices about what to drink. Duh. Huge
profit margins on increased serving sizes couldn’t possibly be what are motivating
soda companies and fast food restaurants to push these “comically oversized”
portions[i]
on unsuspecting customers.
Isn’t
it odd that Americans would prefer corporations make decisions for them rather than
the government, while the former profits from their business and the latter is invested
in their health and well-being? I
think so. If Coke and Pepsi were
paying the medical bills, we’d see how quickly they’d hop on board.
