You are standing on top of a building about to jump. Your mind is made up and you are ready to end your life. The only problem is that the building is too high. So as soon as you are about to put yourself out of your misery, the owner of the building asks you to go down a few floors because, if not, they will be fined $200.
Ok, so the situation may not be as drastic, but Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York City sure thinks so. According to NBC News, he wants to ban the selling of sugary drinks that come in a container of more than 16-ounces from establishments such as restaurants, fast-food chains, movie and stage theaters, delis and office cafeterias. He also wants to fine the establishments in violation up to $200 after the grace period ends.
Bloomberg told the New York Times, “I’ve got to defend my children, and yours, and do what’s right to save lives. Obesity kills. There’s no question it kills.” Yeah? Well, so do air planes, greasy foods, choking, and natural causes. What is Bloomberg going to do? Fine everyone up to $200?
Reported at the top of 2013 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, accidents and Alzheimer’s disease are all leading causes of deaths before diabetes. Obesity did not make the list. Accidents accounted for a whopping 120,859 while diabetes was 69,071. That is a 51,788 difference between the two. The chances of you leading a healthy life and getting hit by a car are higher than you drinking a 20-ounce big gulp daily.
It is understandable that the mayor of New York would like to curb obesity and try to implement policies to restrict access to unhealthy beverages. Realistically, it would not help. Instead of subtracting, add. Encourage exercising, increase the time spent in gym class, send students home with healthy after school snacks, change school lunches, make healthy food more affordable and obtainable to those who cannot afford it or even get to stores that sell it.
There are various ways to obtain other drinks and food items that are high in sugar as NBC News notes. For instance, a gas station would still be able to sell drinks over 16-ounces, and you can buy two-liter drinks from the grocery store along with other sugary items, like sugar.
Lets not forget an old staple in African-American households, Kool-Aid. A small packet that costs ten cents mixed with sugar from a three pound $2 bag and tap water. What would you suggest then? Pulling it off the shelf completely and handing out mandatory food guidelines?
Obesity is not an issue that can be easily fixed. People are going to do what they please. You can make them jump from a lower floor, but they are still going to jump if they want to. Your “ban” will not prevent them from dying.
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- Kimberly Fields, Contributor