Think Twice Before You Buy Sodas

It’s time we address the health issues of America. Many parents in America have been calling out for a change in policy to solve the obesity problem. But now there is another reason to make a change: pollution. Sweet beverages are often thought to only have impact on the health of people. But the mass consumption of sweet beverages has placed a heavy burden on Mother Earth. The air pollution produced in the transportation process has become more severe as the demand for these beverages skyrocketed. In fact, soft drink companies produce 10.4 billion gallons of sugary drinks each year. That’s enough to serve every American a 12-ounce can every day, 365 days a year.

Although people are aware of this information, the demand continues to increase. Perhaps they should think of the environmental impact if the health concern is not enough. Most people only think of what the beverages do when they’re consumed, but the transportation required to get them to the hands of consumers should also be noted. If the demand for these drinks is this high, that means that the beverage companies will be using more resources toward transportation. More trucks will be used; vast amounts of oil will be used; the trucks will deliver more often, producing more gas emission. Even if you’re not an environmentalist, it will impact you: The resulting air pollution will make it harder for you to breathe, and put you at risk for asthma, chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, and heart disease. Even if you didn’t get heart disease from diabetes alone, you still cannot be assured.

As if these factors aren’t abysmal enough, the huge supply of cans used to store these beverages heightens the problem of overflowing litter in this country. Some of these cans can be recycled, but that doesn’t mean they are. Unfortunately, people continuously throw these cans on the sidewalk carelessly, exacerbating the situation. Even with implementation of recycling, the overabundant cans cannot be recycled fully, and recycling will require much resources and efforts. As you can see, the health setbacks, the air pollution, and the excessive litter are a triple whammy for everyone. The only way to stop these beverage companies from producing so much supply is by reducing demand. Therefore, parents, do not think that the companies are going to back down because they won’t. They are making more profit than they could have ever dreamed of, and they will continue to feed the consumers as long as they have demand. So my advice is this: change what you buy, because if everyone joins the movement, they will have to give up.

Diana Lee, Gunn High School