Should Soda Be Banned From Restaurant Kids’ Menus in CNY?
Baltimore has become the first major northeastern city to ban soda from kid's menus in restaurants and eateries. Should this law be adopted in Central New York?
The new law, which was passed this week, says that water, milk and 100 percent fruit juices must now be the default beverage choices for kids' meals at Baltimore eateries. Children can still drink soda if an accompanying adult orders one for them.
Sounds crazy - maybe.
Let's take a look at the stats in Central New York. In Oneida County, according to the NYS Department of Health data from 2013-2015, 35.7% of elementary students and 39.8% of middle and high school students are overweight or obese. Inactivity and poor eating habits are the main cause of overweight in children - and soda represents a significant number of empty calories in kids' diets. And let's not forget what soda does to kids' teeth!
So what do you think - should New York pick up the same idea? It's not like kids CAN'T get a soda, the law just makes the default a healthier option like water or milk.
Too much government interference or a gentle push in the right direction? What do you think?