The Seattle School Board will be courting a legal challenge if it renews a five-year contract with Coca-Cola, a nationally prominent lawyer warned yesterday. George Washington University law professor John Banzhaf III said vending machines in schools will be a key target of a new movement combating an "epidemic of childhood obesity." Banzhaf, a driving force behind the lawsuits that have cost tobacco companies billions of dollars, has turned his attention in recent months to the junk food served by fast-food franchises like McDonald’s and by school districts in Seattle and elsewhere. [from the Seattle Times]
Bottom line: schools shouldn’t be selling stuff that’s bad for kids. Not because they could be sued but because it’s the right thing to do. But beyond junk food in schools, this article raises the larger issue of sleazy lawyers like Banzhaf suing companies over the stupid things people do to themselves. You have got to be extremely dense not to know that cigarettes cause cancer, cappuccino is high in sugar and fast food is high in calories, fat and salt. But don’t blame Phillip Morris, Starbucks or McDonalds for selling this crap. As an adult, you made the choice to buy it and, in the process, taught your kids to do the same!
As for Coke, read the *&*@^%$# label on the bottle, people. There is nothing in there but sugar and water. Drinking lots of it while sitting in front of the tube (and eating lots of fatty snacks) is going to make you fat. Besides, Pepsi is better. :-)