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The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

nytimes.com

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Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#161

Post by greggman »

_delirium wrote: post #102
mikenyc wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sugar-wise, the can of coke is about 70% worse. 12-oz caramel macchiato = 23 grams of sugar http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/caramel-macchi... 12-oz can of coke = 39 grams of sugar http://www.coca-colaproductfacts.com/en/coca-cola-products/c...

Good point, the source of calories isn't the same mix, even though the latte has more total calories (200 calories/12oz, vs. 140). Though I was thinking of the caramel latte rather than macchiato, which is a bit closer, at 27g of sugar: http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/flavored-latte... . And since it's autumn, it's now time for their signature seasonal drink, the pumpkin spice latte, 300 calories and 39…

Another issue is size. In Europe or at least at many of the places I've been lately the sizes they have at Starbucks USA do not exist.

A latte for example in Paris or Barcelona is no more than ~6oz or so, maybe less whereas Starbucks USA they start at 8oz and go up to 24oz. I have not visited a Starbucks here to see the sizes. Every coke I've ordered has come in a 8oz bottle as well unlike the unlimited refills and or big-gulp sizes seen in the USA.

Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#162

Post by Nimitz14 »

PKop wrote: post #34
kachnuv_ocasek wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kids can buy whatever they want if they have money. And surely, they'll buy the shiny thing thing they saw on TV or the internet when they encounter it in the shop and see it's cheap.

Again, kids won't do "whatever they want" if their parents do their job and instill proper discipline, education, and consequences for behavior that they don't want. If you want the government to do your parenting for you, I don't know what to tell you. Not my idea of good parenting, and I think the results will be disappointing. We can agree to disagree on that.

I'm really surprised how many pro statists there are arguing against you. Feel sorry for their children.

Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#163

Post by patrickaljord »

seizethecheese wrote: post #147
fennecfoxen wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does the "water supply" of most citizens of most countries come from a grocery store? Or does it still come from things like municipal plumbing or rural wells ?

In Latin America tap water is not drinkable so most people get their drinking water bottled.

Not in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and probably Colombia. People there massively drink boiled tap water.

Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#164

Post by caseysoftware »

greggman wrote: post #160
caseysoftware wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's why we haven't had anyone start smoking in decades.. Soda sales are down but obesity is still up, so the calories are coming from somewhere. If you believe the other common stories, we're drinking the calories. I'd wager they come from the rise of coffee-based beverages - which would not be considered soda - but I don't have data to back that up.

I'm confused about your comment on smoking? Are you saying because of labelling people aren't smoking? I ask because for example Singapore has extremely harsh labeling and yet they've seen an increase recently. Sorry if I mis-understood your point. https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/Parlia... Warning!! THESE LABELS ARE GROSS!!! https://www.google.es/search?q=singapore+cigarettes+labels&t...

My first line is sarcasm in response to:

> Most consumers aren't idiots. But they're aren't scientists or academic researchers for the most part either. Bring them relevant, accurate information and they are capable of making rational choices.

In the US, cigarettes have had warning labels for almost 50 years and still ~20% of the population smokes.

Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#165

Post by rhino369 »

littletimmy wrote: post #33
lfjmfkekdk wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That will certainly not pass the first amendment test.

The first amendment shouldn't really apply to corporations. We already limit the advertising of tobacco, for example. Sugar is as harmful.

>The first amendment shouldn't really apply to corporations.

Should the feds be able to shut down Hackernews? It's a corporation. NY Times? It's a corporation.

The distinction you want to make is commercial speech should be able to be regulated. And it is. False advertising is illegal but lying about politics is a first amendment right.

Also, sugar isn't harmful in moderation.

Plus the science of diet is hilariously poorly understood. 15 years ago people would have been trying to ban fatty food. Now all the sudden fat is good?

And that goes triple for popular diet advice. It's all fads. We still can't figure out a diet that works for whole population long term.

Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#166

Post by simoncion »

andyfleming wrote: post #17
littletimmy wrote: post #10

What we really need is a limit on advertising. Corporations manufacturing packaged sugar like coke, cereal etc. should not be able to manipulate young children to get them addicted to their crap. Sell this stuff in plain white boxes, ban advertising to young children, and in general, limit the free speech of soulless legal fictions when they target children.

What we really need is education. Children and adults alike should better understand nutrition and what they are putting in their bodies. It's no secret that soda and so many other drinks are packed with sugar, but no one seems to care or understand.

> It's no secret that soda and so many other drinks are packed with sugar, but no one seems to care or understand.

I both care and understand.

The fact that soda is an easily-consumable, relatively cheap, energy-dense, decent-tasting liquid foodstuff is why I purchase it.

Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#167

Post by notvladputin »

caseysoftware wrote: post #164
greggman wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm confused about your comment on smoking? Are you saying because of labelling people aren't smoking? I ask because for example Singapore has extremely harsh labeling and yet they've seen an increase recently. Sorry if I mis-understood your point. https://www.moh.gov.sg/content/moh_web/home/pressRoom/Parlia... Warning!! THESE LABELS ARE GROSS!!! https://www.google.es/search?q=singapore+cigarettes+labels&t...

My first line is sarcasm in response to: > Most consumers aren't idiots. But they're aren't scientists or academic researchers for the most part either. Bring them relevant, accurate information and they are capable of making rational choices. In the US, cigarettes have had warning labels for almost 50 years and still ~20% of the population smokes.

I'm confused by your comments, and am asking for clarification of your perspective. What exactly is your point?

While 20% of the population still smokes, the incidence rate has hugely decreased over time[0].

According to the CDC, in 1965, ~43% of the population smoked. In 2011, it was just under 20%, with a goal of 12% by 2020.

Transparent labeling, increased regulation and awareness, plus general advances in understanding the consequences of smoking have had a massive effect on the rates of smoking. It's not perfect, but a similar reduction in obesity over the next 50 years would be an incredible accomplishment.

Now if only we could tackle that burgeoning mental health problem...

[0] - http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/tables/trends/cig...

Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#168

Post by matthewmacleod »

at-fates-hands wrote: post #97
klenwell wrote: post #25

When Mr. Nutter was fighting the soda tax battle, he kept a bottle of Mountain Dew and a container with 17 teaspoons of sugar — the amount in the bottle — on the table in the center of his office. It was a good “conversation piece,” he said, about the surprising number of calories in a typical soda. I think this is key. Better information and transparency is having an effect. I'm glad to hear we're approaching a poin…

The sad thing is you can do this for pretty much anything but water. 15.2 oz Minute Maid orange juice: 45g of sugar: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/subway-minute-maid... 12 oz Welchs grape juice? 63g of sugar: http://i2.wp.com/afterthekidsleave.files.wordpress.com/2014/... Something healthier like Vitamin Water - right? Vitamin Water - 8oz 13g: http://www.betteroffwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/vita..…

it also contains that pesky thing called "crystalline fructose" which apparently is a mild form of arsenic

This is literally one of the most scientifically illiterate things I've ever read. Please at least try to understand basic nutrition or even chemistry before sharing your opinion on these issues.

Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#169

Post by rhino369 »

jimmar wrote: post #32

It's interesting to me that diet soda consumption has dropped from its peak. I would have guessed that sugary soda would have been replaced by diet soda, but it appears that water has replaced sugary soda more frequently. Mind mildly blown.

A lot of people just can't get over the terrible taste of artificial sugar. If someone ever creates an artificial sugar indistinguishable from sugar or corn syrup, it'll be a multibillion dollar invention.

I'd give my right arm for zero calories coke, I'd rather have a perrier than diet coke.

Re: The Decline of ‘Big Soda’

#170

Post by simoncion »

r00fus wrote: post #90
andhess wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really mind if "big water" is a thing, but I'd like to see better packaging for it. It's amazing how many people regularly drink bottled water instead of tap water.

We purchase from a locally purified water distributor and use large reusable containers. Makes a big difference. When we got our plumbing replaced I might get a whole house filter as well.

How frequently would you need to change the whole house filter in your house?
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