New York City's Anti-Soda Grossout
In the wake of New York State's failed attempt to tax sugary sodas and juice drinks, the New York City Health Department has come out with a public service campaign to curb consumption the soft way: with the hard sell.
New Campaign Asks New Yorkers if They're "Pouring On the Pounds" [via Adfreak]
New Salvo in City's War on Sugary Drinks [New York Times]
Post a comment
Comments:
*Brought to you by the water, seltzer and low-fat milk industries.
It's not really clear that the soda is morphing into fat in this ad. A better visual would improve it.
Anything that grabs young people's attention about the soda factor and obesity is a good thing in my mind. When I grew up (she said in her granny voice), soda was a special treat that you had on birthdays, on a rare visit to McDonald's, on a picnic. Today kids grow up drinking it daily as a staple beverage. Well, not my kids (whew), but most. Water, people! Tastes great; less filling/fattening.
This could work if NYC had a nicer water supply.
@MostlyHarmless: Blarg stupid mouse.
Anyways, I was going to say, it is a good aim to cut back on soda, but dang that is one politically incorrect campaign.
I approve.
but what if you're lactose intolerant?
@Hooray4Zoidberg: You know, this might be completely off topic, but I never understood the "got Milk" ads. Why did they spend money on those? It's not like it was trying to get you to buy one brand of milk over another. It was just for milk in general. Who do you know that doesn't buy milk? The only people I know that don't buy milk are vegans and lactose intolerant people...
@Skankingmike: If you're lactose intolerant and too stupid to find water, seltzer, or Lactaid, you'll die of dehydration.
I gave up soda as my New Years resolution. I still crave it like hell but I'm glad I gave it up. I now drink a lot of ice tea or some 100% fruit juice with soda water in it.
then you can have seltzer or water?
I tried to order a seltzer, but they kept bringing me salsa!
@ElizabethD: Agreed. I honestly think that most people have no idea how many liquid calories they consume each day (even people who don't drink soda). I know as a teenager, I had no idea how bad soda was.
I was secretly hoping for a more disturbing image myself. If glancing fast, it does look like just foamy soda.
@ElizabethD: IMO, soda as a treat doesn't any harm. People perceiving them as an every-day beverage is the problem.
I was going through a drive-through with a friend and his 5 year old daughter, and when I asked what her drink should be, he said Sprite. I looked at him like he was crazy, and turned around and asked her "Do you like apple juice." Her eyes lit up and she said "Yeah!" At least with the juice she's getting some nutrition with her sugar.
Also, kids frequently get their soda by the can. A serving size for a 200lb man is not a serving size for a 50lb little girl, but I don't see many parents taking this into account.
Wow, that's tame for NYC. I'm surprised they aren't showing someone with a hole in their mouth or tooth like they did with their ant-smoking campaign, with a voice over saying they can no longer drink from a straw or something.
I was one of those kids who had infinite access to soda. And Kool-Aide. I finally kicked the habit in college and now I touch neither. The only sweet beverages I treat myself to are India Pale Ales.
I'm part of the "refined sugar is a drug" crowd, as in, a behavior-affecting drug, an addictive drug, and perhaps even a "gateway" drug for some people. No reason for kids to experience the "rush" of sugar and caffeine at such a young age.
@goodcow: Maybe I'm too used to less-urban water supplies.
@pattiesmart: For quality standards, sure, I meant more for taste. Like I said though, water I'm used to may ust be a lot different. Water where I live currently tastes pretty cruddy.
Forgive me for NYC water-bashing. :(
I like that the bottle has a red label and not a blue one. I'm just sayin'...
@Ratty: You must not be from NYC. NYC has the best tasting water around (and I'm not saying it because I grew up drinking it, it's really true).
@ElizabethD: Now I don't allow my kids to drink soda often it's a treat they get when we occasionally go out to eat, then it's orange soda or lemonade and the other wants water or milk.
BUT I will point out water does not taste great. Just because your taste buds enjoy it doesn't mean others do.
Interesting how diet sodas are not mentioned as an alternative. Last time I checked low-fat milk had more calories and fat in it than a diet soda.
You'll pry my Diet Coke from my cold, dead, hands.
Or is diet OK because it doesn't have any calories?
MMM, sweet bubbly caffeine. You are so worth the cancer people keep telling me you're gonna give me.
@dr1024:
Diet sodas tend to increase cravings for calorie rich items. Those who cannot handle such cravings will end up gaining weight drinking them.
@secret_curse: I thought people dont like milk, and the ads wanted to make it look cooler to have milk.
Soda is an addiction. Some can drink one cup a day and be content while others need to supersize their cup. Then there are those who say...oh carbs bad! Drink diet! That will solve it! Yeah no - it's still bad for you with the sodium in it (usually 40 mg). There are some who may agree or disagree with this statement but someone needs to take a look at soda again. We as a society drink so much of it and it really gives no nutritional value. Alcohol with long term use can hurt the body - what about soda?
@aloria: Those "aspertaine gives you cancer" studies are dubious, at best. You can get cancer -- if you drink enough diet soda daily to drown a large horse.
@itiswhatitis: I grew up in some rural areas, some with well water, some with municipal water. I've traveled a fair amount. In my experience, NYC has the best tasting tap water.
That said, YMMV. The pipes in the building I first lived in here were in awful condition. We spent a significant amount of money buying bottled water. So if someone hates on NYC tap water, I just assume they live in a shitty building. Those are pretty plentiful here.
Are they tackling soda specifically because it's full of calories and sugar? Cause they can also tackle coffee as well.
Please don't take away my coffee.
@GitEmSteveDave_WonAForeignLottery!: True. I hate cigarette smoke and those smoking = finger amputations ads turned my stomach.
@secret_curse: It's still a product that needs to compete in order to keep its market share. Beef and pork also have commercials.
Milk tastes like crap to me so I rarely buy it, and only really for cooking or cereal. But I'd never drink that garbage straight that's for sure.
@Taliskan: I tried that milk with the Lactaid in it (instead of taking the lactose out) once.. I'll stick to the Lactaid supplement, thanks.
It was just...off. It even flowed oddly when you poured it out of the bottle. It was like it was moving in slow motion but only very slightly. It was like the uncanny valley for milk.
Well it is less gross than the TV spots the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene was running with the smoker's guts.
@JennQPublic: Actually, apple juice is pretty much pure sugar. The only edge it has over most commercial soda is lack of HFCS.
It's really not something kids should have with any more regularity than soda.
@Geekmom: I think the "Tastes great, less filling" line was a reference to an old Miller Light commercial, and not meant literally. ;)
@kateblack: I have been pretty fortunate I guess, I lived in the same building in Harlem until I went to college, water was amazing. At school in Albany, water was amazing, lived in another building in Harlem, water was great, moved to Suffolk county water was still amazing and both my residences in BK the water is off the chain. Even when I go to the beaches (CI or Rockaway) and the parks, the water coming out of the fountains is on point.
@Geekmom: For someone who is used to everything being flavored, I know it is difficult to switch to plain water. As someone who drinks water with practically every meal, I have no problem filling up at the water fountain or faucet for my liquid refreshment. However, my husband is constantly complaining about the lack of taste due to the fact that he drinks only soda. I've switched him successfully to drinking healthier options by giving him unsweetened jasmine green tea or dilute juice drinks. I think it is a conscious decision at first. For parents, you have to put your child's health first. I see nothing wrong with drinking soda. But to see every person in line at the grocery store swigging on a 20 oz bottle of coke makes me sick.
/rant over
I rarely drink soda, but I have a craving for Cherry Pepsi. So I might get one. And this add didn't get rid of the craving.