The world is on a mission to become healthier. Well, at least politicians are enforcing healthier habits.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg plans to crackdown on sugary drinks and sodas in New York. The mayor proposed a plan that would ban the sale of drinks that contain more than 16 ounces of liquids that are more than 25 calories per eight fluid ounces. The move is being considered as statistics show than 58 percent of New York City adults and 40 percent of kids are overweight or even obese, Reuters reports.
The move is not favored by public opinion, but doctors support the effort to curve the disease that leads to diabetes and high medical bills.
New York has also been cutting back on smoking since 2003. Smoking was banned in bars and restaurants at the time and has since been banned in public places like parks and beaches, in hopes that New Yorkers will cut back on the lung-damaging habit.
New York isn't the only place striving to get healthier. Last year, Denmark placed a tax on foods containing more than 2.3 percent saturated fats. This raised the price of butter by 30 percent and a bag of chips by eight percent. Saturated fats raise bad cholesterol levels, so the country imposed the tax so its citizens will cut back on the fat.
In 2011, Hungary also introduced a 'fat tax.' They put a high tax on foods with high fat, salt, and sugar contents, especially prepackaged foods. Some items include sugary drinks, cookies, jams, and instant soup. The country was also the first in the world to pass a law banning trans fats, with Austria and Switzerland following closely after.
In Ireland, particularly Northern Ireland, fast food restaurants are banned from locations near schools to help reduce the rate of obesity in children. Ireland is also considering banning advertisements for high fat foods like cheddar cheese, butter, margarine and mayonnaise.
Romania has also considered adding a fat tax. They did, however, ban junk food from being sold in schools including snacks like salted pretzels, salted nuts, crisps, chips, sweets, hamburgers and pizza.
England is considering implementing a 20 percent "fat tax after seeing the success of the move in other locations. The move could save 2700 lives a year.
Several states in the U.S. are also starting to put a ban on tanning, especially for teens, as tanning can lead to skin cancers and diseases. In June, New Jersey officials put a ban on tanning for anyone under the age of 16. Chicago put a stricter ban on tanning for anyone under the age of 18. The movements follow the case of a New Jersey mom who reportedly took her six year old into a tanning bed.
Several countries including Scotland, Australia, Israel, Latvia and Italy all enforced strict smoking bans in public places including bars and casinos. They have noticed a large decrease in the number or smokers in the countries.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
