Mini Poll: Fountains of Sodas?

Since New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a ban there on the sale of large-sized sugary drinks, residents, health advocates, soda makers, libertarians, late night comedians, and Fox Television reporters have been discussing it almost non-stop. In a recent national poll, half of those surveyed thought the Bloomberg plan was a bad idea because it “went too far.” Yet, some health care professionals opposed it because it did not go far enough. After all, half of all New Yorkers (and equal percentages of Chicagoans, Houstonians, and St. Louisans) are overweight. Improving their health has been one of their mayors’ chief public policy concerns.

Bloomberg’s proposed ban is on the retail sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces by his city’s restaurants, food trucks, street carts, and stadium and theater concessions. Sales at grocery and convenience stores would be exempt; natural fruit juices and drinks with a lot of milk would not be banned. Businesses that did not comply would face $200 fines. The New York City Health Board has given the plan its preliminary approval.

No one has yet proposed such a ban in St. Louis. And Mayor Francis Slay has said that he has no plans to introduce one. But, St. Louis, like New York, is struggling to address the public health concerns – and public costs – associated with weight, particularly overweight youth. Do you think some sort of a ban on the sale of Giant Sugary Drinks be a good thing – or, like Mayor Slay, do you believe that portion control probably is best addressed by individuals, not governments?