Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

bbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 177 posts

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#21

Post by jMyles »

Jdam wrote: post #14

Is it just me who's thinking that individuals in modern societies are not capable anymore of making meaningful decisions, including how much to drink? We're sacrificing freedom here because we became incapable. That scares me.

Is there evidence that lack of capability is the culprit? Is it possible that people are perfectly capable, but make informed unhealthy choices because it's what they want to do?

I can't stand even 8oz of sugary soda, but I also can't imagine judging or restraining someone (let alone with the violence of the state) who wants to.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#23

Post by LastZactionHero »

Jdam wrote: post #14

Is it just me who's thinking that individuals in modern societies are not capable anymore of making meaningful decisions, including how much to drink? We're sacrificing freedom here because we became incapable. That scares me.

I don't have a strong opinion on the ban itself, but it doesn't surprise or scare me that people don't know how to deal with unlimited quantities of food. Until recently, food was scarce, and evolution hasn't caught up to free refills. It takes a lot of education and willpower to make healthy choices.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#24

Post by canadian_voter »

I'd rather live in a country that provides comprehensive free health care and limits soda consumption, than one that allows me the "freedom" to consume as much sugar as possible and makes me pay for the consequences.

I must be a radical hippie leftist: I think we should tax the sh-t out of refined sugar and subsidize organic vegetable farms.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#25

Post by rhapsodic »

digitalengineer wrote: post #7

I remember my vacation in the states (in the South). I got served a absolutely massive glass of coca-cola with my dinner. When I had finally managed to finish it a waiter came and refilled the bloody thing when I wasn't paying attention. How can you enjoy your meal with that much to drink?

>I remember my vacation in the states (in the South). I got served a absolutely massive glass of coca-cola with my dinner. When I had finally managed to finish it a waiter came and refilled the bloody thing when I wasn't paying attention. How can you enjoy your meal with that much to drink?

Are you from a place where there is a cultural taboo against only drinking part of the beverage a restaurant serves you?

Saying that you "finally managed to finish it" implies that you were putting effort into drinking the entire glass despite not wanting to. And being put out by the fact that the waiter refilled it implies that you felt obligated to drink the refill as well.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#26

Post by jMyles »

krastanov wrote: post #12
andrewclunn wrote: post #3

Free refills? How dare you! That stomach doesn't belong to the consumer, it's merely being rented from the state!

You are making an argument based on taking this to an extreme. But take it to the other extreme: is it governmental overreach that heroin is banned or is it a good public health policy? The merits of this new French law can be argued, but it is not an obvious overreach.

> is it governmental overreach that heroin is banned or is it a good public health policy?

I think you are making a good point, but this is a horrific example. Heroin prohibition has been a spectacular failure. There are literally bodies in the streets to show for it.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#27

Post by jMyles »

LastZactionHero wrote: post #23
Jdam wrote: post #14

Is it just me who's thinking that individuals in modern societies are not capable anymore of making meaningful decisions, including how much to drink? We're sacrificing freedom here because we became incapable. That scares me.

I don't have a strong opinion on the ban itself, but it doesn't surprise or scare me that people don't know how to deal with unlimited quantities of food. Until recently, food was scarce, and evolution hasn't caught up to free refills. It takes a lot of education and willpower to make healthy choices.

> Until recently, food was scarce

Ever read Ishmael?

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#28

Post by toyg »

munin wrote: post #16
Jdam wrote: post #14

Is it just me who's thinking that individuals in modern societies are not capable anymore of making meaningful decisions, including how much to drink? We're sacrificing freedom here because we became incapable. That scares me.

when were we capable?

Beat me to it. Before we were obese, we were already smokers, alcoholics, gambling addicts, sex fiends, violent thugs, opium lovers... if there is anything we can abuse, we will. Animals don't know when they're having too much of a good thing, evolutionary instincts are honed on getting as much as you can today because you could get none tomorrow.
Post reply on HN