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Health & Fitness

New York Mayor Proposes Ban on Sugary Drinks

Last week, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a ban that would limit the size of sodas and other sugary drinks in the city in an effort to fight obesity.

Last week, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a ban that would limit the size of sodas and other sugary drinks in the city in an effort to fight obesity.  If implemented, this would be the first such measure of its kind nationally.  Drinks included in the measure are sodas, energy drinks, and pre-sweetened iced teas.  The ban would not apply to fruit juices, dairy-based drinks, alcoholic beverages, and drinks with fewer than 25 calories per serving, including diet sodas, unsweetened iced teas, and zero-calorie Vitamin Waters.

 

Mayor Bloomberg’s ban would prohibit the sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 ounces at restaurants, fast-food chains, delis, movie theaters, street carts, and sports arenas, all of which are under health department regulation.  Vending machines, newsstands, and retailers, such as grocery stores, would be exempt.  Restaurants and fast-food chains with self-serve fountains would not be allowed to distribute cups larger than the 16-ounce cut-off, but refills and additional drink purchases would be permitted. 

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Like many areas of the country, the escalating rate of obesity in New York City has become a major cause for concern amongst public health officials and healthcare providers.  It is estimated that over half of adult New Yorkers are obese or overweight, and it is not unreasonable to assume that similar numbers are present throughout the United States.  The serving restriction of sweetened beverages aims to help combat this issue by creating a “barrier” – whether in the form of having to purchase more drink or obtain smaller refill amounts – to large drink servings.

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Critics of the ban, who are large in number, claim that it is an intrusion on personal rights and cite that the proposed drink limitation will only have marginal health benefits.  Supporters note the large consumption of unhealthy drinks by the general public and feel that restriction of such can only be beneficial, whether that benefit be large or small.  They also mention how previous controversial regulations created by Bloomberg and the city of New York – such as smoking bans, restriction of trans fat use, the insertion of calorie content on chain restaurant menus, and the posting of health inspection grades on the windows of restaurants – have become modeled measures for other U.S. cities.

 

I actually do not think that some sort of restriction on sugary drinks – whether in this form or another – is a bad idea.  As prefaced, obesity in this county continues to be a serious problem, especially in lower-income and inner-city communities.  Its escalating rates can be linked to hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, and other chronic conditions.  While I most certainly recognize that there are a myriad of other important issues that must be addressed in the fight against obesity, I think the limitation on sugary drink servings is an important step in the right direction.  At the root of Mayor Bloomberg’s ban is a push for portion control, which no one can effectively refute as a good thing in terms of health.

 

Furthermore, the additive effect of soda and fountain drink size limitation should not be glossed over.  Consider a person who purchases a 20-ounce non-diet soda every day at the cafeteria at his/her place of employment.  Full consumption equates to approximately 240 calories per 20-ounce serving.  Under the proposed New York City 16-ounce restriction, full consumption of a now 16-ounce non-diet soda every day equates to approximately 192 calories per full drink serving.  This means that over the course of a 5-day work week (all other factors being identical) the person in the example will have a caloric intake of 240 calories less than before.  For the sake of comparison, an average-sized person has to jog over 20 minutes to burn an equal number of calories.

 

I will reiterate that the proposed sugary drink ban will not by itself eradicate obesity.  Nevertheless, the health benefits of decreased portions and/or the selection of lower-calorie alternatives cannot be denied.  If the proposed ban is passed, I think New York City will see some positive public health benefits sooner than expected, particularly in neighborhoods heavily populated with fast-food restaurants and other unhealthy dining options.  I would gladly welcome such change here in the St. Louis Area.  Much like smoking restrictions, this ban could be another step towards a healthier society, and I therefore applaud at least the idea and discussion of such.

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