New York Soda Ban Shot Down

New York's Mayor Bloomberg had a proposed ban on soda and other sugary drinks in cups or bottles over 16 ounces. He said that this is just a step in the right direction for the people of New York City to become slightly healthier. However many people saw it differently - if you want a large soda you should be able to buy it or whatever else you want to eat or drink. After all, we live in America, why should the government be able to tell us what to put into our bodies or what we are allowed to buy. We are in the United States of America where we have the Bill of Rights. While it doesn't necesarily state that we can eat or drink whatever we want those rights should be implied. I totally agree that the government should not govern the amount of soda that we are allowed to purchase in a single container. After all if people want to drink more soda they will just buy a couple bottles at once. This will just lead to more waste of plastic in the landfills as people want to buy the same amount of soda and will buy multiple bottles or cups at once.

Well a judge has shut down the soda ban and in a defensive act Mayor Bloomberg said he will appeal the decision. So only time will tell if this ultimately will go into effect in the future or not. However I think that this will meet the same decision the next time it goes into court as I think it is unconstitutional to tell people what to put in their bodies. But I don't think that the government should be able to tell us that we can't have foods cooked with trans fat, and we know that there is a law that prohibits that. And don't even get me started on drugs and alcohol. The government doesn't allow many drugs and restricts access without a prescription to many others. And many states and municipalities have laws on alcohol sales and usage. I don't believe that they should be able to tell adults what they are allowed to buy and consume. But they do. And they do it often when you include these items along with food and non alcoholic drinks.

So we shall see in the future how it works out. And if the soda ban goes through in New York City, it may take effect in the whole of New York state and then other states and cities and perhaps the entire country and maybe other countries will have similar laws. I sure hope not, but stranger things have happened. Only time will tell.