If carbonated soft drinks are really bad for the health, then why governments do

1. 63

   Sundeep Katariaposted 10 years ago

   If carbonated soft drinks are really bad for the health, then why governments don’t ban them?
   
   The print and electronic media is full of reports, studies which highlight that how soft drinks can influence a person’s health. So why not stop their production? Isn't prevention better than cure?

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2. 60

   FatFreddysCatposted 10 years ago

   For the same reason tobacco and alcohol are still legal to consume. There are too many people who enjoy these products (and far too much money involved in their production/distribution/sales) to simply ban them.

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   1. 63

      Sundeep Katariaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You are absolutely right but  tobacco & alcohol are supposed to be for the consumption of Adults, whereas the soft drinks are gulped by kids from an early age !!

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      Express10posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      There are unfortunately many people who are underaged here in the US who do various drugs and consume alcohol. This is another example of how bans don't always accomplish what they were intended to.

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Here we are not supposed to ban things. If we do it is supposed to be for very very good reasons. To ban something is to deny a freedom that was there before. That requires more than "over consumption can be bad for you". Not governments job.

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      Express10posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree Ericdierker. Many people in the US are just not very informed about what they consume and don't even care. It's their right to have bad teeth and ill health due to their lack of concern about what they are consuming.

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   5. 61

      fpherj48posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      "kids" are attracted to products allegedly geared for adults.  The more Taboo something is, the more teens go for it....unless there's been a massive shift in teen-behavior in the last 10 minutes. Also, I have many adult friends addicted to sodas!!

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3. 80

   Express10posted 10 years ago

   Many of us prefer to make the right choices for ourselves rather than have big brother doing it and unfortunately, there are many who love to have the wrong choices available. The US government is among the least effective of many in the world so even if they attempted to ban soft drinks, they would just create more problems and many people would simply make their own similar to tobacco, marijuana and other drugs and alcohol.

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4. 82

   bethperryposted 10 years ago

   I believe it is because, soft drinks are not so bad for us. But the more toxic and "bad" for us any substance or product is deemed, the more likely consumers are to excuse or overlook the government levying increased taxes on it. We must also remember that these studies are typically performed by universities and pharmaceutical facilities that benefit from federal monies to carry them out. That the end conclusions very often hail the most detrimental of effects from a product should come as no surprise to any of us. What monies governmental agencies pour into support of studies is deemed negligible compared to the future tax dollars such agencies hope to glean by the reports.

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5. 61

   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   Because they bring in money. If drugs did not make money they would stop them.

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6. 69

   Cymbre Martinposted 10 years ago

   1. Getting rid of the soft drink industry would have a negative effect on the economy.
   2. While products such as tobacco and alcohol have direct negative effects, such as a high associated with cancer and other diseases, the ill effects of soda and its ingredients can contribute to diseases such as obesity and diabetes, but is not the sole cause
   3. Preventing children from consuming certain things is a parent's choice and responsibility, not the governments
   4. My rights can only be prohibited when they interfere with another person's the right to consumer soda does not hurt anyone else
   5. The same thing could be said aout candy and a lot of fast food, where would it end?

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7. 0

   sheilamyersposted 10 years ago

   Because it's like all of the other junk food products out there, it's really not that bad for you in moderation. If you want to ban soft drinks, you should also want to ban candy bars, all fried foods, and a long list of other products. Once it starts, where does it stop? And why should I lose my right to consume the occasional Pepsi just because other people drink so much it makes them sick?

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8. 74

   JohnGreasyGamerposted 10 years ago

   Remember how well Prohibition of the 20s went? A tot of sherry is fine every once in a while but excessive consumption is where the problems lie, and that's what prohibition failed to act against. In today's society we have considerably more ways to beat the negative effects than before like dieting programmes and rehabilitation, though the negative effects of prohibition of such things would only be considerably worse than before. How many knew how to make moonshine before and then after prohibition? The same answer will apply if the same were to happen to things like chocolate muffins and ginger beer. What about the benefits like a well needed energy boost, or even saving a diabetic's life if they need sugar? Do they just have to carry a packet of sugar with them everywhere, or will that be banned because of the negative connotations?
   
   While my post comes off as strongly negative and even hostile it's only because I love my fast food and fizzy drinks, but I can only blame myself if I pack up my body. I won't blame Coca-Cola because I was irresponsible, and that's the whole point - others shouldn't be punished because one single person was irresponsible. If we need governments to literally spoon feed us and take away our treats, we're in deep trouble.

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9. 61

   fpherj48posted 10 years ago

   Sundeep.....PLEASE!.....My dream is to have the Government's interference and continual attempts to control us and our lives....BANNED!
   They need to go far far away. 
   
   Besides, my friend, any and all that our brain-dead government has done in terms of the food industry is create and approve more and more ways to poison and kill us.
   
   Sure, sodas are terribly unhealthy to consume.  I agree.  However, if we began listing all that is unhealthy, we'll be here until next week.
   STOP the production of carbonated soft drinks??  You mean as in the multi-billion dollar businesses in the Industry such as COCA COLA & Pepsi???.....OK, Sundeep, that oughtta be easy!!   LOL
   
   In a perfect world, if we consider all that may be beneficial to our health if we stop producing.it.....we would be left with organically-grown fruits and vegetables.....and NUTS.   There ya go, that's it!!  "Pass the carrots, please."
   
   I have probably consumed 2 sodas in my entire 66 years.....I never acquired the desire.  Bless my mother's common sense & reason....everything boiled down to wise budgeting (spending & saving)  Never would she have spent hard-earned money on what she called "water with syrup & bubbles!"  (and she was absolutely correct)  Soda was not an option in our home.  In like fashion, my sister and I never had it in our homes for our children.  Funny how that works out, huh?
   
   By the looks of things...(if any of us can even bear to LOOK at the Big Picture any more)......Our Government has enormous issues to take care of, which they quite obviously are doing nothing about besides arguing back and forth constantly.
   
   Human beings will do, say, eat, drink and live as they choose, despite laws, warnings, bans and/or controls.
   
   Remember what happened during Prohibition?   can we even imagine a Dr Pepper Speak Easy??...........I love your question!!

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10. 91

    Pamela99posted 10 years ago

    They would hear so many complaints from the population, and I doubt they want to put a big company out of business. The FDA doesn;t even put warnings on the drinks like Lodi and others that have the effects of amphetamines and are known to be dangerous. Teens end up in the ERS frequently overdosed with these drinks.

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11. 73

    DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years ago

    In one sentence:  because prohibition DOES NOT WORK, that's why!

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12. 0

    CalebSparksposted 10 years ago

    The government has no business regulating it...plain and simple. Have we all lost our marbles!? The government has expanded it's powers far past what the Constitution allows. The people have allowed it.

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13. 71

    brakel2posted 10 years ago

    Coke and Pepsi sales have slowly declined in past few years, as publicity about bad effects increased. The FDA. Has not paid attention to claims about Aspartame, so don't count on that Agency to ban much of anything. As a result, it is each person's responsibility to make wise choices. When you buy anything, the only way to make good choices is to read ingredients and also to keep informed. It is  a time consuming process but the only way to stay healthy.

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