NEWS TIPS -- Big Soda Ban, Aurora Shooting

Sept. 22, 2012 - PRLog -- NEWS TIPS; Big Soda Ban, Aurora Shooting
New Developments About Continuing Stories

NYC's BIG SODA BAN:  Two new studies lend strong support to New York City's new rule prohibiting the sale of sugary soft drink in containers larger than 16 oz.  One reports that "sugary beverages can affect body weight quite quickly -- perhaps more so than any other single food product," especially in Hispanics. Another showed that, for people who are genetically predisposed to obesity, drinking soda can increase the odds that they will become obese by a factor of 10.  Public interest law professor John Banzhaf, who started the growing movement to use legal weapons against smoking, and who inspired a series of law suits which forced major bottlers to cut soda sales in schools, has shown that New York City's ban is the least intrusive of several alternative measures, and a good example of "libertarian paternalism" and the "Nudge Principle."

AURORA SHOOTING LAWSUITS:  Three people wounded in the mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado, have filed law suits against the theater, alleging that its various acts of negligence were responsible for their shooting by James Holmes dressed as the "Joker" in Batman. Public interest law professor John Banzhaf, one of the first to raise the prospect of civil liability for the shootings, has written extensively about why law suits against Colorado University are very likely to be filed and to be successful.  He thinks law suits against the theaters have less basis in law, but may at least prompt settlement by a theater chain eager to avoid more adverse publicity.

MATH IN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS:  The Wall Street Journal has just reported on how the "Banzhaf Index of Voting Power" may be used by both campaigns for president to help them allocate campaign funds, candidate appearances and other resources by targeting them towards those with the most voting power, and about how detractors have now produced competing mathematical analyses.  See:  "Sought: Voters With Real Power," at on.wsj.com/OPnYpt  AND  "The Deciders," at http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/the-deciders-1168/

JOHN F. BANZHAF III, B.S.E.E., J.D., Sc.D.
Professor of Public Interest Law
George Washington University Law School,
FAMRI Dr. William Cahan Distinguished Professor,
Fellow, World Technology Network,
Founder, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
2000 H Street, NW, Suite S402
Washington, DC 20052, USA
(202) 994-7229 // (703) 527-8418
http://banzhaf.net/ @profbanzhaf