The Issue: Mayor Bloomberg’s effort to promote healthy living by banning large-sized servings of soda.
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Sugary soft drinks are the single biggest source of calories in the American diet and are the only food or beverage shown to increase one’s risk of weight gain (“Mike: Downsize It,” Editorial, June 1).
Soda provides nothing of value and its out-of-control serving sizes are putting New Yorkers at increased risk of health problems such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Not only should we curb sizes, but we should also tax soda, require warning labels and mount ad campaigns against it to urge people to drink less.
Michael Jacobson
Executive Director
Center for Science
in the Public Interest
Washington, DC
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I understand that less consumption of sugary drinks, alcohol and cigarettes is better for your health. But to have our government dictate how much we can consume is going too far.
Taking it one step further, Mayor Bloomberg could allow only one packet of sugar for each coffee drinker. I can’t imagine how that would go over with New Yorkers.
Chris DiToro
Staten Island
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When I go to the movies with my girlfriend, we buy a large soda with two straws and share it.
Sharing a drink in the dark is romantic, not fattening.
Ray Hackinson
Ozone Park
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With all the yammering and protests stirred up by Bloomberg, I am reminded of the campaign slogan Barry Goldwater used when he ran for president: “In your heart, you know he’s right.”
Like him or not, the same can be applied to Bloomberg.
Herb Stark
Massapequa
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If Bloomberg would educate, not regulate, maybe we could maintain both our waistlines and our freedom of choice.
Johnny Sollitto
Brooklyn
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Why not just ban Bloomberg and the rest of his harebrained schemes?
When was the last time anyone saw Mayor Mike on a bike, anyway?
Jane Isabella
Johnstown
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We have become a society of obese slobs — individuals who smoke and who eat and drink unhealthy foods and beverages in gargantuan quantities.
Our behaviors are leading to a society significantly composed of the sick and disabled.
Should those who wish to be healthy follow Bloomberg’s sensible recommendation not to consume a beverage filled with useless, addictive and harmful sugar? Of course.
Should welfare recipients be prohibited from using taxpayer dollars to poison themselves with excessive amounts of sugar, fats and sodium? Certainly.
I’d like Bloomberg to succeed, but this must be done by winning the hearts and minds of the people, not through expanded regulations.
Oren Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair, Pa.
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Where does it end?
President Obama wants to force us to buy health insurance, and Bloomberg wants to be our doctor.
In a democracy, you have the right to be stupid and make your own choices — even if they’ll kill you.
R. Lessin
Staten Island
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Do I want to save money and look good? Certainly.
I think that average consumers are satisfied with 16 ounces, so do they still need more?
You still have the freedom to buy diet soda and other beverages. Also, consider buying more than one.
New Yorkers should pay attention to how much sugar is in soda and the looming threat of diabetes.
K. Akama
Queens