New York Mayor Declares Slurpageden

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced this past Wednesday that he will propose a ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters and street carts in the big apple.  The New York Times reported, "The proposed ban would affect virtually the entire menu of popular sugary drinks found in delis, fast-food franchises and even sports arenas, from energy drinks to pre-sweetened iced teas. The sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 fluid ounces — about the size of a medium coffee, and smaller than a common soda bottle — would be prohibited under the first-in-the-nation plan, which could take effect as soon as next March".  This insane ban would not apply to diet sodas, fruit juices, dairy-based drinks like milkshakes, or alcoholic beverages and would not apply to beverages sold in grocery stores or convenience stores.  “Obesity is a nationwide problem, and all over the United States, public health officials are wringing their hands saying, ‘Oh, this is terrible,’ ” Mr. Bloomberg said in an interview on Wednesday in City Hall’s sprawling Governor’s Room.  “New York City is not about wringing your hands; it’s about doing something,” he said. “I think that’s what the public wants the mayor to do.”  In New York City, where more than half of adults are obese or overweight, Dr. Thomas Farley, the health commissioner, blames sweetened drinks for up to half of the increase in city obesity rates over the last 30 years. About a third of New Yorkers drink one or more sugary drinks a day, according to the city. Dr. Farley said the city had seen higher obesity rates in neighborhoods where soda consumption was more common.

ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME!  Are we living in communist Cuba here?  The public wants the city to ban large drinks?  I think Mayor Bloomberg has lost his freakin' mind!  This ranks right up there with New York's ban on trans fats and smoking.  People want to fill their bellies with Ultra Large drinks and they want to eat unhealthy foods.  Hell, its what makes us tick.  Since when does the government need to restrict what we eat or drink.  I for one do not want a governing body of any type telling me what to do.  I thought it was a crime when many states passed the mandatory seat belt law.  Don't get me wrong here, I wear a seat belt every time I get into a car.  However, I don't need the government telling me that I have to wear one for my own safety.  I also don't need them telling me that I can't slurp down a 32 ounce soda either.  This crap really sends me over the edge.  Next we will be told that we can only take 22.6 breaths a minute or we will incur a fine.  If I was a vendor in New York, I would resist this ban with every fiber in my body.  I would sell huge drink containers and promote two 12 ounce drinks for the price of one.  People could then pour both into their huge drinking vessel.  To sum it all up, we have to hope that this insane ban will not catch on and spread like a plague.  Could you imagine the turban marts around here not being able to sell "The Big Gulp".  They would all go out of business.  Hell, it would be "Slurpageden".