New York City seeking prohibition

You’ve seen the news story that New York City and it’s mayor, Michael Billionaire Bloomberg, will be attempting to disallow the sales of any drink over a certain size with a certain calorie count but the truth is that this billionaire mayor has a lot to learn about the top 1%.

If you are a citizen within the voting boundaries of New York, you could soon help make a wave. This isn’t a wave for the New York Yankees, this is a wave in business. In the event that you are confronted with the option to vote for or against an initiative that prohibits the selling of drinks of a certain size and health, you should consider several things.

Starbucks is a well known place. If you have never been into a Starbucks, you are in the minority. (ED: I have never consumed more than one sip of coffee in a decade but have been to Starbucks in 3 different countries)

Starbucks primarily sells coffee at it’s over 19,000 locations in 58 countries, employing approximately 149,000 people as of 2011. In the culture of Italy and in Starbucks, you can order your liquids in 6 different sizes:
Demi 3 US fl oz (89 mL)
Short 8 US fl oz (240 mL)
Tall 12 US fl oz (350 mL)
Grande 16 US fl oz (470 mL)
Venti 20 US fl oz (590 mL) or 26 US fl oz (770 mL)
Trenta 31 US fl oz (920 mL)

Since the Grande is exactly 16 ounces, it’s the cutoff that Starbucks will soon use for allowing New Yorkers to order. As the Venti is too large of a cup in ounces and too high in calories. Because New York residents aren’t capable of self-discipline without mayoral assistance, consider trying a Venti before it’s too late.

The popular store 7-11 will also notice sales changing for it. Not just for the Big Gulp, but the Slurpee. There is no need to avoid a cold headache, but the best way to get one is to quickly consume a large Slurpee. The large size of Slurpee is too big for the New York cutoff though, so consider getting a child’s size.

Don’t forget that this is a function of size and calories. Starbucks and 7-11 are not the only places that will be effected.

The Pepsi and Coca-Cola companies will be alright, they might not be able to have their soda sold over-the-counter in 17 ounce or larger containers in some establishments, but at least there’s the local grocery store. For now.

What is to stop the $22 billion dollar man and New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, from pushing this ban or law a little further.

According to the news, the 24-calorie per 8-ounce liquid would only be targeted at the 20,000 restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums, and arenas in the city of New York. This wouldn’t be the stop point though, this is the first point.

Imagine having worked a long day and wanting to head to your local TGI Fridays and get a beer and relax watching some ball on the giant screen TVs. For now that’s alright, but considering the quantity of calories in your beer, I’m not sure that you would want to chance it (a light beer has more than 60 calories for 8 oz or 120 calories for 16 ounces… and the mugs of beer are way over-the-limit). It’s known that the current attempt to limit sugar and control obesity is starting with sodas and coffees, but what is the limit?

More about the crazy soda hater.