Sugar as a controlled substance? What an idiotic idea

I don’t want to get into a scientific argument about the research that was published in the scientific journal Nature regarding the toxicity of sugar. I understand sugar is not empty calories and could lead to metabolic disorders.

What I do have a problem with is scientists going beyond their scope and trying to be the world’s policemen.

Recommending taxation or controlling the access to sugar in my opinion is idiotic. Free choice is what makes us humans. And there has not been a single example that shows that prohibition of anything works.

I know that they are trying to make the analogy that sugar is the same as alcohol but I beg to differ.

When we had prohibition of alcohol early in the 20th century, consumption and crime rose. And in all likelihood people who were injured by the excess consumption of alcohol became even more ill, because they were afraid to tell anyone that they were drinking.

We live in a world today where the government wants to regulate our every move. But instead, what should be encouraged is better alternatives and incentives for small businesses and food industry experts to continue to do the right thing--which by the way I believe they are doing.

New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, in my opinion, has done a very good job in exposing caloric contents of food in restaurants and in no way has damaged the business community in NYC. In fact, if anything it is thriving and bigger better than ever before.

Ultimately all of this leads to a conversation--not a mandate.

My father lived in a communist country where food was rationed, families were traumatized and black markets were created. All because civil liberties were destroyed by bureaucrats who believe the data is more important than human reasoning.

Dr. Manny Alvarez is the Senior Managing Health Editor of FoxNews.com and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.