Julian Morris on the Bogus Public Health Attack on Sugar
Health activists are in a tizzy over sugar and fast food, which they blame for the obesity "epidemic." Responding to these concerns, politicians have sought to tax or regulate the alleged culprits. Tort lawyers, smelling tobacco-settlement-scale greenbacks, have been gearing up to sue companies producing sugary beverages. Last week, in an attempt to pre-empt this barrage of legislation, tax, and litigation, the Coca Cola Company announced that it would from now on "market responsibly, including no advertising to children under 12 anywhere in the world." But as Julian Morris explains, none of these actions are likely to have much impact on our waistlines; indeed, some may be counterproductive, while others are likely to burn a hole in our wallets. And for most of us, life just wouldn't be as sweet.