I was browsing the net the other day and came across a headline about regulating sugar like alcohol and tobacco. I had to see what it said, after all my soda consumption may be in jeopardy. ( I don't really drink that much –but I don't want someone telling me I can't either.) Doctors think that because of the pervasive epidemic of obesity and diabetes (as a result of the obesity or just because of too much sugar in the diet) that sugary beverages, such as soda, should be regulated requiring one to show their ID if they wanted to purchase the product. Most of us know there is a problem with people (not just in the US) ingesting too much sugar in their diets.There is supposedly evidence that sugar can be addicting and one can suffer withdrawal if they consume huge quantities regularly and then stops. However, we are free to eat what we want. Sugar isn't affecting other people by our using it; unlike alcohol and drugs where being inebriated can cause injury to others.
What is the age they consider to be old enough to consent to consume sugary beverages? How long will it be before they want us to show ID to purchase a candy bar? - 'I'm sorry; you aren't old enough for that pack of M&Ms you are dying to have.' How long until you have to show ID at the checkout for groceries such as cereal, cake mix, doughnuts, snack cakes, spaghetti sauce (it contains sugar!), and forget pancake syrup.
What will be next? Let's see… Studies have shown that processed foods are bad for us therefore anything containing white flour will be regulated. Canned meat products will be regulated. No more Chef Boy Ardee™ products for the kids; they contain sugar and flour. No more sandwiches because you can't buy bread unless it is whole wheat, and you can't get cold cuts because they are processed, and by the way, contain mass quantities of salt, which is probably the next to be regulated because too much of that is unhealthy too.
Are we all to turn vegetarian? My husband refuses to go without meat and I'm sure he isn't the only 'meat and potatoes person' on the planet. Vegetables are only available certain times of year anyway so they would have to processed somehow (you can't freeze everything for preservation). To buy imported produce year-round would get too expensive, and as they are discovering now, the government has no control over what chemicals other countries allow used on their produce. They are finding pesticides in the orange juice imported from other counties; like that's healthy.
I don't think it would fly to try to pass such legislation to make one show ID to buy a bottle of pop. Can you imagine people being ticketed for buying a bottle of Coke™ and giving it to a minor or selling out the back door of the store to people who don't have an ID. The sales person looks around, eyes shifting right to left, ever watchful for the cops. "Don't tell anyone where you got it kid. I'll deny I've ever seen you."
Read the article here (Open in a new tab!): http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57369857-10391704/sugar-should-be-regulated-like-alcohol-tobacco-commentary-says/
No comments:
Post a Comment