Opinion on 8-0 Approval by the Board of Health for the Mayor's Plan

The issue of Mayor Bloomberg banning the purchase and sale of large sodas has struck me with a difference of feeling. My first inclination was positively advocating this decision. Because before getting into the facts of the rule, I figured, sure a 64 ounce Mr. Pipp or Cola is overkill that has no benefit. Then I learned the decision is based on a 16 ounce serving size and my opinion quickly changed on the notion this quantitiy just simply isn't always enough. And then more introspectively, the notion that New York City consumer's thought process does likely take adequate consideration for what they are buying in advance.

Not to stereotype New Yorkers, their intellect or their social awareness but I feel that people of the city are more aware of their actions and conscious in the decisions that they make. The reason for this perception of metro residents being more in tune with their environment and conscious of the consequences in their actions is that people are openly exposed a majority of the time in the city. New Yorkers are very often out in public, walking the streets, riding the subway, frolicking with others in the park. These surrondings compel people to be weary of the social signal that a enormous fountain drink might say about their health decisions. Or comparitively, the mayors of other towns of a much more secluded lifestyle where commuting in the comfort of their own cars to drive up to their front door can easily escape public scorn. Also the less interactive living arrangements of homes far removed from the likes of confining apartments that most New Yorkers are used to questions the openess factor experienced by so many urban dwellers..

Much less is the fact that New York City is a trend setting, glamourous, hard working, self betterment type of society that likely inclines people to take responsibility for their health and diet more than other regions of the country. The pedestrian nature of New York where greater exercise is likely exerted just simply on the basis that people are walking to most places that they go make the soda ban argument less convincing.

New York is a hot city in the summer. For those wanting to quench a thirst with something other than water for an occasionally treat through a midafternoon commute in torrid temperatures should in my opinion be provided the right to use their judgment on what drink to buy. So learning of the meager sixteen ounce maximum purchase limit, I was quickly compelled to oppose the measure. Any number of counter arguments can be made against Bloomberg's case including what about diet drinks and why not juices? He doesn't intend to ban zero calorie beverages even though an argument should be made about the large quantity of artificial sweetener for diet soda not being a healthy alternative. If a regular full calorie drinker is made to suffer from the rule then why shouldn't a taste favoring diet drinker face the same rule? Fruit juices have just as much and often more sugar and they can be bought in large quantities at anynumber of restaurants and fast food chains though they are not effected by the ban.

And where is this rule bound to lead? To alcohol consumption? Before we know it a rule such as this could land the city into prohibition like legislation where you can't buy a certain size beer at a bar that offers large glass specials or the argument that people who sit at restaurants and bars are able to get refills but why can't we now walk away from a deli or cafe with something more than a 16 ounce drink. Then the last piece of legalese that I saw about the rule is that it would effect only food and drink locations that receive inspection grades from the health inspector. So nearly all restaurants including fast food with their drink fountains however convenince stores aren't effected. It seems that these convenience store locations with enormous 96oz cups are the primary culprit that Bloomberg would be attacking yet they fall through the cracks on having to adhere to the rule.

So in my opinion the government of New York City should concern itself with assistance programs for individuals who may need such guidance concerning their health. And surely drawing attention to the detrimental health effects of consuming excessive amounts of sugary liquids is justified by government campaigns and public service announcements. But to simply ban outright the sale of such beverages and not have the ban effect the many number of convenience stores that occupy the New York streets, I feel is a poorly thought decision.

As the decision has already passed the Board of Health making it a current valid law soon, the soda industry is likely to challenge it by possibly bringing the issue to court. So with further debate to be had, maybe at least reconsideration can be made on the quantity being prohibited because I think that I speak for many by saying that sixteen ounces simply just isn't always enough.