Opinions

 

 

War of Words: Getting Rid of Pop

Getting nd of pop makes sense ,, sis:s:sts

A; was revealed in the previous month, Coca-Cola will
soon be exiting Douglas College permanently. This is a
welcome adjustment from the prior vending machine choices
that we have had. I am in fact an avid pop drinker; however,
I recognize the urgency for more variety and options for
those that do not wish to enjoy junk food when on campus.

While this new policy may seem unnecessary, as
people can always disappear from campus temporarily and
still purchase these products, that is exactly why this policy
should be encouraged.

Within mere minutes of exiting the campus, one can
purchase a Coke or a Pepsi product, thereby, eliminating
the exclusivity of one product on campus as it is no longer
available there. Exclusive contracts mean the institution
makes more profit, but this does not offer the students more
selection.

There are also inherent dangers in exclusivity contracts
as institutions that do not meet expectations can be handed
lengthy extensions that are within the agreement. This
happened to Douglas College with their existing deal,
ironically removing Coca Cola’s odds of renewing the
contract in its current form. To renew this agreement once
more, they will have to offer exclusively healthy options
that comply with the new regulations in the next deal they
conclude with Douglas. Otherwise, if this was not the case, a
revised pact would presently have replaced the current one,
which would have meant more Coke on campus.

This offers students an opportunity to save a little

cash as they will have to transfer their own “junk food” to
Douglas, which could be purchased at a fraction of the cost
that students currently pay for soft drinks on campus. These
prices are often excessive in an effort to recover many costs
the institutions would otherwise be unable to obtain, since
tuition and service fees are at a fixed rate.

Healthy foods are not as easily acquired off campus
as there is not always a store nearby that will sell these
products. Convenience stores tend to be nearby, but they
rarely offer healthier options. By having healthy options
available on campus, this offers those students an alternative
that they would not otherwise have had because healthy
choices simply did not have a market for it.

Through compelling students to depart campus, the
government has also offered people a concrete option:
students will have to question themselves, “do I want to
walk an extra five or ten minutes just to purchase a coke?”
As well, they have offered more exercise for people and/or
healthier choices if they are too lethargic to leave the college
for a few minute excursions.

 

 

We should be allowed to drink pop where we want

By Garth McLennan

 

 

I, 2009, Douglas College will be a pop free zone. The
Gordon Campbell government will further its healthy
choice policy by banning the sale of all pop, from Coke
and Pepsi to Mountain Dew and Sprite.

Just what we need; more unnecessary government
intervention in our lives! Now, the government is able
to dictate what we can and can’t drink at school? What a
joke. This ban that the government is imposing is for all
public schools. Why exactly are colleges and universities
lumped into the same designation as elementary schools?
Virtually everybody that attends post secondary is an
adult, so why aren’t adults permitted to decide what they
want to drink? If I choose to enjoy a pop on campus, I
should be allowed to.

You are still able to bring soda from home, but this
creates a ridiculous inconvenience. You can just walk
across the street to Subway and purchase a coke, but
you can’t do it at the Douglas cafeteria. The government
accomplishes nothing, while the college loses revenue
from pop sales at the same time. Great, just great.

Why the government is heart set on banning soda is
beyond me. Sure, there are healthier drinks out there, but

The public should have the freedom to drink pop if they
want to. Freedom is something we still have last time I
checked.

it isn’t the government’s job to decide that for individuals.

Plus, drinking soda isn’t anywhere near the same .
league as smoking cigarettes or something like that. It’s
not like soda harms anyone around you.

Honestly, what does this ban accomplish? It has
already been forced onto public schools, which means
less financial assistance for an already underfunded school
system. All that will happen is the boosting of local sales
around campuses while schools will lose out.