Sugar Nation Controversy

Controversy Analysis
Gabrielle DAnnunzio
Final Draft
INTRO:
“How far should the Government go to protect us from ourselves?” (Huffingtonpost.com). That is a question some New Yorkers have been asking themselves since September 13th, 2012, when the New York City board of public health officially put into effect a ban of selling sugary, soft drinks over 16 ounces (about half a liter). This soda ban has divided the city separating residents into two distinct views. Will this new ban benefit New York City and create yet another stepping stone against the obesity epidemic, or is it an unnecessary abuse of power by the government, that is unfair to big corporations and businesses?
HISTORY: Supersize me documentary, negative effects of
58% of New York City adults are considered overweight and according to New York Cities Health Department, one in three adult New Yorkers either has diabetes or is pre-diabetic due to obesity (cbsnews.com). To care for these people, New York City spends an estimated $4 billion dollars each year on health care for overweight and obese people (cnn.com), and its only getting worse. The obesity rate in New York City went up 6% in the last decade. “According to the New York City Department of Health, over half of New York City residents are now overweight or obese. In the Bronx, this number has climbed to an astonishing obesity rate of 70%. The City calculates that if everyone drinking 20-oz sugary drinks switched to 16-oz, the city would “save” about 2.3 million pounds per year