Let's be honest: Soft drinks aren't good for you, and extra-large-sized ones are extra-bad. It shouldn't come as a surprise that drinking gigantic, sugary sodas is detrimental to our health. But Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed ban on sweet beverages over 16 oz. has left some city residents feeling bitter.
On Tuesday, according to Good Morning America, "Advocates on both sides of the issue faced off at a public hearing ... in Queens."
Supporters of the ban assert that it's an effective way to protect you and me from diabetes and other obesity-linked health issues. Some medical experts even liken the soda industry to cigarette companies. The Huffington Post reports that health professionals are "hailing Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal as a way to protect the public from a soft-drink industry they said pushes carbonated calories on children and employs the same well-financed lobbying tactics as Big Tobacco."
But do people really need to be kept safe from super-sized sodas? Chris Gindlesperger, an American Beverage Association spokesperson, said they're not nearly as harmful as tobacco. "Cigarettes can kill you," he argued. "Soft drinks are a treat to be enjoyed in moderation – they can play a role in a healthy, balanced and active lifestyle." Furthermore, Councilman Oliver Koppel called the idea of portion size regulation an "infringement on the rights of New Yorkers."
The Board of Health will vote on the proposal on Sept. 13.
Do you think the government should tell citizens how much soda they're allowed to drink?
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