Big Gulp Ban: Some Massachusetts Residents May Say Goodbye to Super-sized Sugary Beverages

The Big Gulp Ban is Gaining Momentum

Inspired by New York Mayor Michel Bloomberg’s recent initiative to ban sugary beverage sizes, the mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts has proposed a similar ban.

On June 18, 2012, Mayor Henrietta Davis submitted research to the city’s health officials and asked them to consider placing a ban on sugary soft drink portion sizes.

“As much free will as you can have in a society is a good idea,” Davis said. “… But with a public health issue, you look at those things that are dangerous for people, that need government regulation.”

Davis sited obesity and diabetes as the reason she wanted to join the beverage ban.

In addition to her role as mayor, Davis also serves as a chair of a Cambridge community coalition that focuses on children’s health.

Don Puzy, the manager of a 7-Eleven said “We appreciate her trying to do something about the kids, their weight, but that is not the way to go about it. There are a lot of programs for it … starting from the schools … Don’t put it on the stores.”

Over the last 20 years, portion sizes have more than doubled. Twenty years ago, the portion size for a soft drink was 8 oz.  Now, the average portion size for a soft drink is 20 oz.

Has our need for “more” caused the beverage companies to respond by offering us larger portion sizes, or has the industry given us more, causing us to crave more?

Drivers, how much soda do you consume a day? Should people be “saved from themselves?”