Argumentative Essay: Should The Government Regulate Sugar?

Should the Government Regulate Sugar? The world we live in today is a very dangerous one, or so it would seem to most people. People can be very suspicious of hidden agendas, being taken advantage of, or some how tricked in some manner. As Americans we have rights, and we are quick to fight for them, perhaps even to a fault. Never will you see more people say their rights are being stepped on than when the government begins to make changes or in some way “meddles” with our everyday lives. Usually I would be the first to agree with them. However, with this class my opinion is beginning to change. Many years ago Natural sugar was used in a few things, and in moderation. But now its almost impossible to escape, its use in food items and drinks
has sky rocketed. Now companies rarely use even natural sugar after discovering “High Fructose Corn Syrup” or “HFCS”. A substance that is not only much cheaper, but easier to produce and sweeter than natural sugars. What I have realized while in this class is that the average person (myself included) doesn't really know or care to acknowledge just how much sugar is in our food and water. Upon further investigation for this paper I discovered just how many health issues can be linked to sugar. Which makes me feel that without a doubt the government should not only inform and educate the public but to regulate sugar consumption. There are many problems that can be linked to the consumption of sugar.
In the world we live in today approximately 1/3 of American adults are obese, and sugar is said to be the number one cause. In an article by Marcia Clemitt it says that “as sugar consumption rose by 42% from 110lbs. in 1950 to 152lbs. In 2000, obesity rates double.”(Sugar Controversies) The average American citizen doesn't know of these statistics, which is why we shouldn't be quick to deny the government's restriction of our sugar. Sugar is also said to have long term damages to the liver. Diabetes can be directly linked to the consumption in sugar from HFCS or “High Fructose Corn Syrup” coming from sugary drinks like soda. In and article called the “5 reason HFCS will kill you” the author Dr. Mark Hyman states that “HFCS contrary to what big name companies are telling us, are not a natural sugars. Since HFCS are so cheap and sweet it is the reason that businesses allow their average soda size to go from 8 ounces to 20 ounces.” As an average citizens we know very little about this, and we most certainly don't have the means or resources to do much about it. Which is all the more reason why the government should get more
involved. A simple way for the government to regulate our sugar consumption is to put a tax on soda.
1 regular large 32 ounce soda has about 65 grams of sugar in it, which is about one half of the sugar serving recommended for one day. But a proposal of a federal tax was introduced by U.S. Rep. Rosa Delauro named the “SWEET Act”, which would have a 1 cent-tax on each teaspoon of sugar in soft drinks, or about 15 cents on a 20 ounce bottle of Coca-Cola. (Robert Kiener, Food Policy Debates)
This would punish the big name soda companies for adding more sugar into their products, perhaps even forcing them to reduce the amount used in their drinks. However, the government shouldn't just regulate the companies, in Marcia Clemitt's “Sugar Controversies”, “she discusses how there will be a new soda tax in New York directed toward the consumers. This new tax will ban all sodas greater than 16 ounces.” This will help us by making it inconvenient to buy an extra soda in order to be satisfied, and as Americans we live on convenience, so many will be deterred from buying large amounts of soda. By doing this our sugar consumption and obesity would be reduced by a lot, and diabetes rates would go down. Everyone knows how serious and unhealthy diabetes and even just how obesity itself can be.
But most people don't think just how extremely expensive treatment can be, when it comes to medical costs. According to the Center for Disease Control “the cost annual cost of diabetes rose to $245 billion in 2012, Rising $71 billion in just 5 years.” With the way the economy is in the world today it just makes sense that we would want to pay less for medical treatment for things that can be prevented by the regulation of sugar. In an article called “Do Americans Face too many Obstacles healthy eating?” by Barbara Mantel, she provides information on just how many adults face obesity. In an official health report it states that “in 2009 in 9 states had adult obesity rates of 30 percent or more compared with only 3 states in 2005 and none in 2000.” With this growing rate our time for arguing is running out, the more time we fight the government the more it will spread throughout the
nation. Despite the claims and facts of many people there are those who do not believe the true effects of sugar. Some people just don't agree with government regulating something that conflicts with their freedom of choice. That if someone wants to drink a 32 ounces of “HFCS”, then they should be able to who has the right to stop them? Then there are some who believe the reports of companies like “Coke” whose President Katie Bayne's said in an article by Bruce Horovitz “During the period from 1999 through 2010, when obesity was rising sugar intake from beverages was decreasing”. USA TODAY
These statistics can't be trusted and mainly because they do not clarify who is providing them with this information. Big name companies use excuses claiming that the studies of sugar have not been done over a long period of time. Which is partly true, because the studies were taken maybe over the past decade or so. But the finding of these studies prove that sugar over a course of time will cause health problems. Whether its diabetes, obesity, tooth decay, or liver damage possible all of these. People can not trust big name companies over the government.