Urge to Limit Supersized Sodas Comes to Boston Area
First, New York. Now, Cambridge and possibly even Brookline are mulling the idea of legally restricting the size of some sodas as a way to fight the obesity problem. What do you think?
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg kind of started it: proposing the city restrict the size of certain sodas sold in the city as a way to tackle what doctors say are soaring obesity rates. It sure does make for good comedy; The Daily Show's Jon Stewart loves pointing out that under Bloomberg's proposal, a small amount of marijuana would elicit a bigger fine than a Big Gulp But. Does Bloomberg have a point? Is taking at least one small regulatory step toward solving the obesity problem worth considering? Or is it an at-first hilarious, but then on-second-thought rather ominous governmental overreach? Now the mayor of Cambridge has proposed her city study the idea. And Tuesday night, at the Brookline Board of Selectmen meeting, there was …
Greer Tan Swiston
11:53 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
I do not favor "bans" in general. I would consider lifting the "waiver" on sales tax for soda rather than going the route of banning. I also think that water and juice bottles should have deposits associated with them as soda cans and soda bottles do rather than banning bottled water (as some towns have proposed to do) in their zeal to be more environmentally friendly. more ›