I really believe in a person's right to legally eat and drink what they like. People have choices and should not be treated like children. There are more important things in this world to legislate.
If they were going to ban these drinks then they should be banned in all places not just a select few and not exclude diet drinks either. What is to stop them from buying 2 drinks now instead of the 1 they would have? and diet sodas make you crave sweetness anyway.
Having said that, I believe people should be aware of the consequences, therefore the package should reflect these consequences. Similar to what they do with cigarettes in Australia. I don't know whether in the States your cigarettes show the consequences of smoking - ours do - graphic pictures of lung cancer, etc, adorn the packaging - one word GROSS. So perhaps they should put graphic pictures on these drinks/foods depicting diseased hearts, amputations resultant from diabetes etc, or even the calorie/fat counts to be printed on the wrappers.
Maybe when it is in your face, so to speak, people will sit up and notice. The problem though is $ - to much is invested in these products - more is good, bigger is better. If people noticed, they wouldn't buy and business would crash. Though I would like to think that perhaps business would really think about it and offer healthier/sugarfree versions of their products, but I think I live in a dream world.
PS - great article - food for thought - which is the point
