>>>>>>>I see no actual harm in such a law, only stupidity.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Cambridge, MA is stepping up to the plate to demonstrate the harm.
>>>>>>MAYOR DAVIS
>>>>>>
>>>>>>WHEREAS: High intake of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages increases the risk of obesity and diabetes; and
>>>>>>
>>>>>>WHEREAS:
>>>>>> New York City has a plan to limit the serving size of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages sold in restaurants; now therefore be it
>>>>>>ORDERED:
>>>>>> That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to refer the matter of a ban on soda and sugar-sweetened beverages in restaurants to the Cambridge Public Health Department for a recommendation.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>http://www2.cambridgema.gov/cityClerk/PolicyOrder.cfm?item_id=35515
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Behavior control laws are harmful because they empower the stupid to further impose their vision of life on everyone.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Health is different because the cost is shared by all. Either we have to allow people to die that can't afford even basic health care or we have to be proactive in leveraging healthier consumption choices to lower the overall cost burden.
>>>>
>>>>If controlling costs is your concern then you should encourage "unhealthy" behavior, not the other way around.
>>>>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/05/health/05iht-obese.1.9748884.html?_r=3
>>>>Update : http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/03/22/alcohol-obesity-and-smoking-do-not-cost-health-care-systems-money/
>>>
>>>That has to be one of the dumbest analysis I've ever seen. What should of been done is to compare the yearly health care costs - not the lifetime costs.
>>
>>Please explain why yearly costs are more valid than lifetime cost.
>
>Well I would think that would be obvious. If someone is costing $5,000 a year in medical costs for 50 years because they're fat and smoke a lot - then die, that's a lot of expense. If someone is costing $2,000 a year in medical costs for 80 years they've also contributed to society and such for an additional 30 years. If they're healthy then their costs are more offset by their contribution...etc etc etc.

$5k * 50 = $250,000
$2k * 80 = $160,000

Your example is the exact opposite of what the research shows.

Here's a link to the research article.
http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050029

You should note the life expectancy from age 20 for smokers (57.4), obese (59.9) and "healthy living" (64.4).


>>>Duh all the smoking obese drunks are all dead by 50.
>>
>>http://www.forces.org/static_page/oldest.php
>>Enjoy! ;)