By Jacob Dickey
A state judge shut down New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s (D) proposal to ban sugary drinks in containers which hold over 16 ounces of said drinks. This proposal was rejected for many reasons but the three that rise to the forefront are:
- Too many establishments were exempt from the ban described in this proposal. (supermarkets, gas stations, etc.)
- Nothing is stopping people from simply buying multiple drinks.
- Many people believe this ban would punish the poor who may have purchased a large drink to share (perhaps at the movies)
For these reasons this proposal was met with strong resistance from many New Yorkers, who saw it as a restriction of their freedom. This proposal was however very well intentioned. The proposal was intended to cut down on NYC’s skyrocketing obesity rates (65% of men and 40% of women). This proposal’s failure is simply more proof of how government regulation of business is not a solution to the many problems America faces in the 21st century.