The Mayor of New York, Michael R Bloomberg, is indeed a brave man! Perhaps a way forward is to ask why people are so desperately thirsty that they can manage to drink a bucket of soda pop in the first place. Was their excessive thirst potentially due to pre-diabetes, or type 2 diabetes? In children abnormal thirst may be a sign of type 1 diabetes, especially combined with weight loss. Perhaps too much salt is being consumed. Overconsumption has become a bad habit for many people for a variety of reasons.

People do not wish to listen to the diet police, but we all need to be fully aware of the consequences of our poor dietary habits. How can anyone expect the human body to withstand such a dietary onslaught without suffering ill effects?

Cigarettes carry health warnings, perhaps sugary drinks should advise moderation and also promote awareness of preventing obesity, heart disease and the development of type 2 diabetes? Every opportunity to promote healthy living should be taken. We are each responsible for looking after our own health and of our children. We need meaningful information to enable us to achieve optimal health and well being.

Competing interests: None declared