France bans unlimited sugary drink refills • Hacker News Board

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#151

Post by davidivadavid » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 6:12 PM UTC

stinos wrote: post #135

FrancoDiaz wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, nanny-state, authoritarianism is part of the socialist ideological grouping. Socialists have always advocated the state making little, "lifestyle" decisions like this. The state "knows better", and you have lots of people agreeing. Look at the top comment and its children comments on this story. You have people applauding this law and saying that people are too stupid to know when to not get a refill. These are…

The state "knows better", and you have lots of people agreeing. Doesn't obesity prove, in this case, the state really does know better? You could argue people are free to be as obese as they want, but only knowingly imo. The actual problem is a lot of people don't realize they're basically being tricked into unhealthy obese living by MegaCorps wanting to get them hooked on their product.

Does it? For there to be a proof of any kind, you'd have to see what impact the ban is going to have, surely?

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#152

Post by tomatsu » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 6:16 PM UTC

benchaney wrote: post #46

tomatsu wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Classic "nanny state" defense. The food industry invented that, by the way.

Even it that is true, that doesn't make it wrong.

The Nanny State™ also puts age restrictions on alcohol and tobacco.

Excessive sugar consumption is a huge problem for our society. Much more so than statistically insignificant stuff like terrorism.

If there is something which has a massive negative impact of huge parts of the population, the state is supposed to do something about it.

The US gov also wanted to do something about this several times in the past, but the US food industry is just too powerful and influential.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#153

Post by Zigurd » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 6:46 PM UTC

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.

Culture hacking works. Sugary drinks have lots of culture hacking behind their popularity. Done individuals are impervious. Many are not. We're "sacrificing freedom" because someone pumped poison into the collective consciousness. Anti pollution laws world be the alternative.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#154

Post by notpc » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 7:33 PM UTC

philipodonnell wrote: post #107

If I'm Coca-Cola or Pepsi or run a large restaurant chain in the US, I'm pushing this ban everywhere. Restaurants price soda to include the cost of people who get the free refills and the margins are high because of it. If the government suddenly banned free refills, restaurants won't lower prices because it will hurt top-line revenue and buying decisions aren't made on the price of soda with your meal. Consumption g…

Your understanding of the economics is off here. Soda syrup is dirt cheap. A five gallon box of syrup costs between $40 and $75 and makes 30 GALLONS of soda. So the syrup costs the restaurant 10-20 cents per cup of soda that they charge 2-3 dollars for.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#155

Post by andrenth » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 7:52 PM UTC

thecopy wrote: post #2

What stops them from offer 100 refills?

In a Brazilian state a law was passed that forbids restaurants to put salt shakers on their tables, as obviously a people shouldn't be able to decide how much salt they want on their food.

The law specifically mentions putting salt shakers on the tables, though. This was the response: https://is.gd/oiQUop

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#156

Post by wott » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 7:53 PM UTC

mercurial wrote: post #19

French (expat) here, can't remember ever seeing any when I lived in France. Have I always been at the wrong restaurants?

I guess it is only a thing in junk food place (i.e. mostly American style places).

Soda doesn't go well with "normal" meals anyway.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#157

Post by wott » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 7:55 PM UTC

jamesmp98 wrote: post #125

realusername wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

is that sarcasm?

It was, I'm suprised that of all issues this generates such a strong response

Because we have already read many fine American gentlemen asserting the same thing in all seriousness.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#158

Post by zeroer » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 7:59 PM UTC

oblio wrote: post #86

zeroer wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose I have to agree with you. You apparently want a nanny state and to tax me to pay for it.

> You apparently want a nanny state and to tax me to pay for it. What's it with Americans and these expressions. I've heard "nanny state" used 0 times by non-Americans (non-Americans use it only when quoting Americans). Also, you're making it sound like you're _the only one_ being taxed. He will also be taxed.

I suppose it's an American phrase. Given the way the rest of the world is going it may be an American value, too, though the US itself is moving away from that idea, too.

I'm not going to rehash old arguments about the virtues of fiscal conservatism. Suffice to say, I'm happy if people want to redistribute wealth and intrude on the lives of fellow citizens. I just wish it didn't involve me.

I am not the only one being taxed. But if my income is 5 times the median income, then I'm paying 20X the median taxes. No fun!

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#159

Post by zeroer » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 8:01 PM UTC

tqkxzugoaupvwqr wrote: post #119

zeroer wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose I have to agree with you. You apparently want a nanny state and to tax me to pay for it.

When the population is incapable of caring for itself, when do you jump in as state? If the population is harming itself, when do you stop it? If you see a person is injuring themselves deliberately, will you stop them or do you let this person continue?

Me personally? If I don't know them, I'm not getting involved. This is not theoretical for me. On a couple of occasions I've witnessed people in the process of self harm. It's scary.

Re: France bans unlimited sugary drink refills

#160

Post by wott » Sat, Jan 28, 2017, 8:11 PM UTC

johnchristopher wrote: post #91

verstaen wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You still have the freedom to drink as much as you want in France. This is not about the freedom to drink, this is about fighting obesity.

That is not entirely true. For instance you can't drink in the street or be inebriated in public places. France also used to serve wine in schools ( http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/1/47/74/06/20160130/ob_1c8cee_... ). Maybe some law makers will come up with the idea to forbid sugary drinks and fast food to less than 18 or 21 years old (like it is for alcohol and cigarettes in some countries).

> For instance you can't drink in the street

Untrue. A few municipalities forbid it, generally in specific places and/or for a specific duration, but the general rule is that it is allowed.

> or be inebriated in public places.

True, but not enforced. Only if you have done something wrong but they can't prove it or they don't want to bother proving it, they will (sometimes) charge you with that.