Large Sugary Drink Ban: Mayor Bloomberg Acts

Whatever one’s thoughts are about its legality or the likely effectiveness of the ban on large servings of sugary drinks instituted in New York City by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he deserves great credit for his heart being in the right place.

The Bloomberg initiative, backed by many health experts, is a small measure encompassing but one area in which Americans go overboard, but it will likely cause some to give second thought to what they put into their bodies.

Our society has become woefully ignorant about our health. We consume excessive amounts of sugar, fats, salt, “junk” foods and beverages, alcohol, and tobacco without a care. No one should be surprised that we are increasingly a society composed of the obese and the sick, a new generation of individuals who, rather than rein in their bad habits, indulge them. Alarm bells should sound when we witness obesity and diabetes becoming increasingly prevalent among young people. When we become ill, we demand expensive, dangerous drugs to treat our symptoms. We spend more money per capita on health care than any other nation, yet we are among the sickest people on earth.

Government is responsible for footing the bill for an enormous amount of the nation’s burgeoning health care costs, and the Medicaid and Medicare programs are in grave peril, their promises unable to be fulfilled in the future without major reform.

For a host of reasons, we should act responsibly to preserve our health and our lives. Though it would be better if the hearts and minds of the people could be won through other means, Mayor Bloomberg has boldly stepped forward to require us to consider the issue. He deserves praise.

What do you think about Mayor Bloomberg's large-size sugary drink ban? Tell us in the comments.