Earlier this year, New York City officials approved a ban on the sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces in restaurants, stadiums, theaters and various other food vendors (grocery stores are exempt). While people have opposed this movement for various reasons, including a violation of rights and loss of revenue for major companies and employers, I oppose it for a different reason: forcing people to become healthy does not change their desire to be healthy and therefore, will not be an effective solution in the long run.

There is no denying that obesity is a huge problem in our country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of US adults and about 17 percent of US children are considered obese. However, New York’s ban is a band-aid solution to this immense problem. Officials assume that by forcing its citizens to practice moderation in one aspect of their lives, the moderation will carry over into their other eating habits, and the obesity issue will be solved. More likely than not, soda drinkers will turn to other foods or drinks for their empty calories, preventing any real change in their diets.

By simply telling people what they can and cannot do, the government is preventing people from learning self-control. If someone tells you not to do something, your desire to do that something increases exponentially. People need to want and make their own rules for moderation in their lives, not have the government make those rules for them. People are more likely to follow rules they set for themselves than ones that are forced on them.

New York City officials are ignoring the old adage, “the best defense is a good offense.” Instead of limiting people’s consumption of unhealthy foods, why don’t officials promote healthy foods? Because fresh fruits and vegetables can be very expensive in comparison to processed foods, some people simply cannot afford them. To change this, tax breaks could be given for fruits and vegetables. Changes like this will transition the anti-obesity movement from defensive to offensive, which will ultimately help people have a desire to be healthy and practice moderation by their own accord, not because of the government’s demands.