Sugar – The Next Controlled Substance?

Sounds crazy, right? Well, at least one serious science publication is suggesting we take a serious look at limiting access to sugar.
The publication in question is Nature. A commentary in the February 1st issue argues that sugar is as "toxic" as alcohol and tobacco, both already subject to government control. Last September, the UN reported that chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease contribute to 35 million deaths worldwide each year. The UN blamed alcohol, tobacco, and poor diet for the spread of these illnessess.

The Nature commentary notes that sugar consumption has tripled worldwide over the last 50 years. Sugar, the report claims, contributes to a worldwide obesity epidemic so severe that it's believed there are 30 % more obese people worldwide than there are malnourished.

But obesity may be only the tip of the sugar problem. The commentary points out that 40 % of normal-weight persons are developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The blame, it argues, should fall on sugar, owing to its alleged toxic nature.

What to do? The authors of the commentary say that government should step in and regulate access to sugar, as it already does for alcohol and tobacco. They suggest higher taxes and age restrictions as two ways to control sugar abuse.But before we make sugar posession a possible criminal offense, maybe we need to take a step back.

Forgetting for the moment that sugar is a vital ingredient for food in many parts of the world, there is a question of fairness here: as an obese diabetic, I certainly have issues with sugar, among other food items. But reducing access to sugar because of people like me is the same as forbidding the sale of steaks because babies don't have teeth to eat them!

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(CBSNews.com)