INB4 "we should be able to make our own choices." True, we should. But I think we are at a huge disadvantage when a lifetime of gargantuan portions have severely altered our perception if what acceptable servings even are.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Also, I realize soft drinks are just one small aspect of this problem. But I think it's possible that this could start a chain reaction. Possible, though admittedly, maybe not probable.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

NO. Dear government, don't tell me what to do. kthxbai, A Free Citizen. P.S. If you want restrictions, I hear China is beautiful. Or Iran.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Why wouldn't you care about the government steadily increasing the serving sizes? Why is only the reversal of this seen as a problem?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I was referring specifically to the ban on soda. I don't need anyone telling me what I can or can not drink. It's my choice. And as far as what peoples' perceptions are of an acceptable portion size, well, that's not my problem either. It is up to each individual to realize that they're being unhealthy, to research what they should or should not be eating, and then to act on it. I don't need Big Brother holding my hand and enforcing something for my own good. Where does that line begin and end? No thanks. I will decide things for myself.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

As I addressed in my first comment, our perceptions have been so skewed that that's not a very realistic attitude.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I just addressed your first comment. It's up to people to decide what a normal portion is. NOT my goverment. Our perceptions are skewed on a variety of subjects, and I don't need the government enforcing any type of rules for any of them to help educate me. If you are concerned about it, start an awareness campaign. You seem to be aware that portion sizes are too large, so evidently, it's possible to figure it out without Uncle Sam's help.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

:/ I really don't understand that attitude on this subject. The fact that anyone can defend the serving sizes in America baffles me. Don't get me wrong, I understand the issue of government control. I just think the increases were a result of that very thing, one which people seem to readily accept. I don't get why people are vilifying this. If other first world nations can deal without having 64oz of soda being normalized, goddamn it, so can we. I think that's a positive.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I'm not defending serving sizes though, and never mentioned my support of that either. I'm against the government banning foods because they are unhealthy. This isn't like anyone is ingesting uranium, or foie gras, which people could then bring up treatment of animals. If companies want to produce smaller bottles of soda or smaller portions, no one is telling them that they can't.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Obviously more people aren't demanding smaller sizs. If the serving portions were already on the decline, then this wouldn't be an issue and the government wouldn't have been forcd to step in and intervene.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Maybe if thye made smaller portions cheaper than large ones, gram for gram, but keep it so that you can't order 2 small ones and make a large.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

FUCK THE FREE MARKET! I would fully support it if the fast food restaurants put the ban, but MY ONLY opposition to it is that the government shouldn't be able to control what the people of America sell. This is capitalism, not socialism.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Actually, america is known as a mixed market where thepeople run the market, and the government makes sure the stuff we eat and drink isn't packed full of garbage or dangerous stuff. We're not a purely capitalistic society.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I know we aren't, but the government shouldnt control how much of a product a company sells

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Yeah it's kind of a win-win. People who are on the go but compulsively buy huge drinks won't be able to get their hands on as much at a time as easily, and people with more self control that are more fit and active can just order more than one and get refills.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

The opposition is that the government is making choices for us. This is America, the land of freedom. IF I want a bigass soda, I'll buy one!

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I live in NYC, and maybe I haven't been paying attention, but there has been no uproar over this here. it seems like the real angry people are the ones who will not be affected. Here in the city, I think many of us really support things that are healthy. Our anti smoking and anti obesity ads are insane (sometimes graphic) and they are seen constantly on TV and on the subway. I trunk most people were okay with the bamning of trans fat in our restaurants, and I feel that many of us are liberal and don't call every government I interference socialism. I don't have a problem with the ban, just like I was happy when they outlawed smoking in many public areas.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

People smoking in your vicinity harms YOU, without it being your choice. Me drinking a big gulp won't.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I get what you're saying about smoking, but we also banned trans fat in restaurants. It's your choice to eat trans fat, but no one here was really upset about that. People don't get how liberal and progressive we are here.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Still slightly different. If trans fats are unhealthy, no one is going to say, "well, it's my choice whether or not I want to order a trans fatty meal." Also, if trans fat was present in restaurant food, the restaurant in question is not going to offer a menu of the burger with the trans fat, and the burger without. You'd have to eat the burger with the trans fat. By restricting the use of trans fats, you are gaining a health benefit and not really losing much freedom of choice, unless you'd prefer a heart attack. Now if you go to a restaurant and order a drink with your food, you have the ability to order a water, snapple, soda, diet soda, etc. You can order a small, medium, or large too. So these are not items that are being forced on you with your meal, and you can choose whichever one you want. Good health practices are learned from the people around you or through an interest of your own, not by the government making your decisions for you.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I completely understand that, and it makes sense. I guess some people would find it easier and helpful to let the government make decisions like that for them, and if the majority of NYC is okay with that, I don't see the problem.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I guess that is just where we disagree then. :) For one thing, I don't necessarily think that a majority vote = the right vote. For another, maybe people won't care about something like this specifically, but it sets another precedent. I'm not all 'government conspiracy they're all out to get you, ahhh!', but who's to say that next they won't ban something else that would affect you more, or that would cross a more serious line of freedom or freedom of choice? In my view, I would rather stop any infringement of choice, even a small one, to A) protect that choice, and B) stop the idea from snowballing.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

That's an understandable viewpoint, but I take it you're closer to the libertarian part of the spectrum while I'm closer to the authoritative one. There's nothing wrong with that.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I don't associate myself with any political party, but I value my freedom to make my own decisions regarding my health. And yes, of course, we are free to see things differently here.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

It's funny too, because I have always been a big soda drinker. Big in that I drink a lot, not that I am overweight, haha. But I recently have almost eliminiated it from what I drink, because I am trying to eat a healthier diet. Even so, I still absolutely oppose the idea of the ban.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

While I think no one should be drinking the sodas, and the size of them ARE atrocious, the fact of the matter is, the government shouldn't be allowed to make that decision for us. They aren't letting us make healthy choices, they're making the choice for us. Obesity is a life-threatening condition, but it hurts the people who indulge in the habit, not those around us. It's not like smoking, where everyone around them suffers; only the one who is gorging themselves is risking their life. Therefor, the government, so long as the habit doesn't endanger others, should let it be. America is losing the only thing that's set us apart: freedom. Eh, my rant's done.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I kind of want some soda now.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I feel like the same things are just being repeated in different ways, so allow me to address them once again. This isn't about the government banning unhealthy food. Hell, really this isn't about the government //limiting// unhealthy food. If you want to drink 64oz of soda, go to the store and buy 64oz of soda. Indulge. This is about a //return// to sensible serving sizes. That's it. Nobody's freedoms are being restricted, and frankly I think that argument is a bit laughable. As far as this being about personal choice, yeah it is. But the thing is you were all children once and you grew up in a world where these portions were normalized and gluttony exalted. And it's likely that you all will have kids and the cycle will continue. It's not just practical adults suffering, it's children. Record numbers of kids are having to deal with the repercussions of distorted food sizing and just overall unhealthy foods. Little kids should not be contracting diabetes at these rates! I realize that this is not the sole cause, but you cannot deny it's a very strong contributing factor.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I don't find the argument laughable at all, actually. If anything, I would find it concerning that anyone thinks of it that way. This argument is about the government banning unhealthy food, because that's just what they are proposing: a BAN on large drinks. Exactly. I want the freedom to choose to drink a 64 oz soda. Just as you already have the freedom to choose a smaller size. If you go to the theater, no one is making you choose the gigantic popcorn and the gigantic drink. This is also not an argument concerning the welfare of children (won't somebody PLEASE think of the children!). Parents who let their kids drink a ton of soda may also be the same ones who let them have cheetos and chocolate bars for breakfast, and then come home from school to play wii while eating a Bic Mac and chips. You can't ban all those things. The root issue is the parent. Not the large sodas, or the chips, or the candy.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

How many times do I really need to repeat myself? NO FOOD/DRINK IS BEING BANNED. The size is changing AS IT DAMN WELL SHOULD. This needs to happen, our sizes are fucking ridiculous. With over 30% of Americans being obese, I really can't take anybody defending keeping our portions just as they are seriously. It's not just junk food, either. When larger portions were normalized in restaurants, that transferred over to larger portions at home. If I remember correctly, the average dinner plate back back in the 80s was like two inches smaller than it is today. It doesn't matter if kids (or people) aren't just eating junk food, their eating //more.// Just all around more. And again, I know it's not the only cause but fuck man, America is the fattest country for a reason. Look, we obviously aren't going to agree on this. I know people are viewing this as a slippery slope leading to less "freedom" but I just don't see it that way. I think it's fantastic and about damn time. So we'll just have to agree to disagree.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Yes, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, because how many time do I have to say that I don't give a DAMN how unhealthy it is, it's for PEOPLE to regulate and not the GOVERNMENT. PERIOD.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Fuck that. The government shouldn't tell me how much I can and can't drink. That's not their job. If I want to drink a fucking 200 oz soda, I'm not hurting anyone. I don't care if you think it's disgusting or unhealthy, because that's not the point. Lots of things are unhealthy. Lots of things are (in my opinion) disgusting. But you can't tell Americans what to do. I want to say bring on the downvotes because lots of people have gotten voted down, but I don't want people to think I'm trying to use reverse psychology.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Well the things, it's not that hard to buy 2 smaller sodas... Literally nothing is gained.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

To your first point, yes that's true. But I disagree with the second. Little kids will grow up understanding what proper portions are. I think that's a gain.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

True, I didn't think of that. That's a strong point, and I'm sure most people haven't thought of it.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I think that every now and then there should be some form of regulation. As pointed out before the regulation of soda sizes is only limited to restaurants. The thing is children grow up thinking these portions are normal, which is sad. True, it is up to the parents to help teach them otherwise. But let's be realistic... How many parents actually teach this? Although I agree with the people that are saying "it's my choice," i also feel it important to point out that there's a reason America is the most obese country in the world. While I realize the subject of obesity isn't contained to the idea of having large portions of soda, it does however offer insight to what some Americans may think is normal or acceptable on a daily basis. Some of us have self control and some don't, these laws apply to those people who choose to lead unhealthy lifestyles. Which is fine if that's what they want but we have to remember that when someone reaches a certain age or qualify they receive assistance in the form of government funded programs such as Medicare or Medicaid. Which in turn pays for some of the "unhealthy" decisions most Americans made.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Orrr maybe I shouldn't have chugged that 64oz soda before I made that long rant. My sincerest apologies

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Instead of banning it, just make it more expensive. Then idiots who still want to drink this crap can, but america will make a profit. Simple.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I 100% oppose this ban. It's not the governments job to stop this at all. Just think, if the government has the power to do this, what's next? Limiting the portions of fatty foods? Reducing the size of alcoholic beverages you're allowed to serve? Any of these measures are completely unnecessary. If you're worried about taking in too many calories then stop eating so much.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

I agree with what you'r saying, but I also sort of think that it shouldn't have to be the government's responsibility to protect people from themselves, if you know hat I mean.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Let me ask, your profile says you're pro-choice. Why?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

Because women shouldn't be forced to pop out babies, though that's a very simplified answer. I'm going to assume you're trying to draw some sort of comparison involving personal freedom/choice?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

You catch on So if someone has the right to do what they want with their body, disregarding whether or not it destroys a life, then why is it okay to restrict someone's freedom to put simple food into their bodies?

by Anonymous 11 years ago

NOBODY'S freedom is being restricted. If it was a ban on soda (or any other food) period, then you would have a point. But I just don't see how a return to sensible sizes is anywhere in the same ballpark. People can still put any quantity of whatever food/drink that they choose into their bodies.

by Anonymous 11 years ago

But that's not the law. The law forbids anyone from having more than 16oz of soda on their person. Now if I can't have the freedom to put however much crap I want into MY body, when it doesn't affect anyone else, then why is abortion okay when it's not just your body thats hurt and it does affect other people

by Anonymous 11 years ago

That hasn't been my understanding of the law. From what I've read/seen it only prohibits larger than 16oz to be sold at restaurants, ballgames, movie theaters, etc. But a person could easily get a refill or order two. If you have a link confirming what you said I'd be more than interested to read it though. Also, I'm not sure if you skipped over the comments or not, but here's my summarized view. A person can put whatever they want into their bodies, I completely agree. And (from what I understand) in relation to soda this law allows that. //But// American serving sizes affect//everyone//. It's not just about being obese, it's about being unhealthy. That last statement was really aimed at children and the fact that more and more are being diagnosed with diabetes and other such diseases. I reiterate, when these serving sizes were normalized, truly everyone was affected. Finally, respectfully, I'm not going to argue abortion with you. (To me) a fetus is not even close to being a human. I'm not going to say that in applicable situations she shouldn't discuss it with her partner, but primarily the decision is hers. So the two aren't really comparable.

by Anonymous 11 years ago