Boston Bans Sodas On City Property

Slashfood:

Boston's long-time mayor, Thomas M. Menino just made quenching the thirst of city-workers that much harder. According to The Boston Globe, Menino issued an executive order to phase out sugary drinks from all city property in an effort to curb rising obesity rates. So long non-diet sodas. Adios sweet tea. Arrivederci you sexy sports drinks, you.

Read the whole story

Comments

[Donna M Oswald Hannani]

02:48 AM on 05/25/2011

Seriously, it's not the soda...it's the hormones injected into the cows and chickens for the food we eat and the milk we drink!!! Genetics also plays a role; I know so many children who grew up with 2% milk, no soda, and no snacks and guess what they were still overweight!! And these were not couch potatoes either. So silly and I will not be visiting Boston since you can't smoke there either!!

[timetocookdinner]

02:02 PM on 04/14/2011

Did someone already figure out how to make a Tea Party joke about this? (The old Tea Party, not the new one).

[baxtron]

10:43 AM on 04/13/2011

please add Cool Ranch Doritos, or corn based crack to me. I can't stop.

[masquedbunny]

10:28 AM on 04/13/2011

The headline seems a bit off. People are still allowed to have soda on city property. They just won't be able to buy it there. So, basically, if you walk to the nearest store (grocery, fast food chain, drug store, quick-mart, etc. etc.) you can have a soda. It's just as well, really, since vending machine drinks are usually a ripoff price-wise.

I wonder, though, if they'll be restocking the vending machines with other options.

[ThinkCreeps]

08:32 AM on 04/13/2011

When soda is outlawed only outlaws will have soda!

[baxtron]

10:42 AM on 04/13/2011

THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JFetch]

03:35 AM on 04/13/2011

That's a lot of lost revenue for the city. Not only in the loss of the money from the machines, but companies like Coke gives tens of thousands of dollars in both money and sponsorship of city programs. They only give it to cities that use their products tough.

[ThinkCreeps]

08:30 AM on 04/13/2011

It's not exactly free to provide diabetes care for 400-lb 15-year olds either.

[SusanElizabeth1949]

05:15 PM on 04/13/2011

I seriously doubt if many 15 year olds are working in Boston Government, 400 pound or otherwise.

[Morena]

03:48 PM on 04/13/2011

And there inlies the problem.

[Caroleeena]

01:56 AM on 04/13/2011

Diet sodas have been associated with strokes and bone loss ... but they are allowed. They are not a good alternative to sugary sodas.

[Hank26]

01:32 AM on 04/13/2011

W_t. F??????? You've got to be kidding me? Who does this guy think he is? Richard Simmons? Minino has stepped WAY over the line of freedom with this one. As has the school district in Chicago with banning lunches from home. Our government and their leaders are so far out of line these days, it's scarey!

[cyoohoos]

07:19 AM on 04/13/2011

Not sure how this compares to a loss of freedom. An employer is free to set boundaries for what their employees can bring to work. I.E. - No Smoking. You can smoke at home, you can smoke in your car, you can smoke when you go to lunch, you just can't smoke here.

no different with soda other than the almost impossible task of enforcing it. Will they have drink testers? not so sure.

[jh61]

09:32 AM on 04/14/2011

Get a grip, dude. Soda is not banned on city property. People are still allowed to bring their own soda.

[Hank26]

09:53 AM on 04/14/2011

Oh. Then nevermind. :) I'm a 'chick' BTW, not a 'dude'.

[TCBGP]

01:05 AM on 04/13/2011

Have a Coke and a night in the slammer.

[littlebrowngirl]

11:24 PM on 04/12/2011

For schools I agree with the ban. For grown folks, let them choose.

[cyoohoos]

07:19 AM on 04/13/2011

For everybody, they can choose what they want on their own time. When at work, follow the rules.

[Widespread Panic]

05:59 PM on 04/15/2011

I agree.

[Robert Huber]

10:34 PM on 04/12/2011

For those who say you don't drink soda and therefore have no problem with this,
I suggest banning coffee. I don't drink coffee.

Ban bottled water too. I don't drink that.
Ban iced tea. I don't drink that.

Why stop there? Lets just ban the consuming of everything except those items explicitely approved by the government.

[Cynth]

12:10 AM on 04/13/2011

Yes, banning the consuming of everything is very likely and clearly the intent of the mayor.

[jh61]

09:36 AM on 04/14/2011

Drugs are banned by the government..are you suggesting that all drugs should be legal?

On another note, you should read the story. It is obvious by your post that you did not.

[notrightorleft]

10:10 PM on 04/12/2011

Yet another example of the nanny state that is Massachusetts.

[jh61]

09:35 AM on 04/14/2011

Jeez... read the story. It just bans the sale, not possession.

[notrightorleft]

09:52 PM on 04/15/2011

Not just read the story, live in the state. This is just one example of the government of this state knowing what is best for its citizenry.

[Angelaaaa]

10:02 PM on 04/12/2011

Ban gum! I'm tired of treading on the damned stuff.

[gypsy508]

09:04 PM on 04/12/2011

The ban is on the "sale, advertising, and promotion" on city property not possession. Bad collection of newspaper headlines. Any further and I would agree it is just a bad nanny state law but hardly worth getting riled up about in present form.

[satanlite]

09:18 PM on 04/12/2011

I read the entire thing just to be sure. I agree. Banning possession of soda would mean soda was as bad as weed and everyone knows THAT's a lie.

[panasonic52]

09:00 PM on 04/12/2011

I personally would have no problem with this if I lived there. I cut out sodas a few years ago and it was surprisingly easy. I have conflicting views on it, though, for the public. It is an infringement on freedom, but it would help in healthcare costs

[mrs young]

11:04 PM on 04/12/2011

then let's ban everything that could endanger public health. while I admire your having conflicting views - where do we stop?? who decides what is best? You? Me? I'm not trying to argue but again - where do we start and stop?

[panasonic52]

10:05 AM on 04/13/2011

it's true; we can't ban everything. That's why all we can hope for is better influence and education for children starting at a young age. It seems like that plus a mental shift in how we perceive ourselves is what's needed to combat obesity. But obviously, that will be a long road.

[Morena]

03:52 PM on 04/13/2011

I don't see how this is infrringing on anyone's rights. You're free to bring in soda, it's not a ban on possession or consumption.