The university I work at is facing a prolonged budget crisis. A revenue source that the campus can draw from is selling what is called “pouring rights”. As the name poorly suggests, it’s about non-alcholic beverages. The university signs a contract with a drinks company, be it Pepsi, Coco Cola, Red Bull, whoever, and that company have exclusive rights. If Pepsi inks a deal and you prefer Coke, well that’s too bad.
At the recent budget meeting the pouring rights topic came up, and certain folks voiced concerns about the healthiness of the beverages sold. Incredible: we are facing a mathematical shortfall, and people can still find ways to virtue signal. As if offering healthier drinks will somehow make the university more money.
Despise capitalism all you want, but that’s the framework we operate in. Should California spend more on public educaiton? Sure, but until that happens, universities will do accounting just like any other private corporation. It’s not personal, it’s just business. You cannot spend more money than you take in.
I couldn’t care less if the university signs a contract with Coco Cola, and all the vending drinks are the tasty sugary stuff. If that is what generates the most revenue, then that is the way. The lone goal here is to make money.
And let’s not infantilize full-fledged adults. If you’re old enough to sign up for the military, then you’re old enough to make your own choices about what to drink and what to eat. College students don’t need to be coddled and restricted. If junk food is what sells, then by god we should sell all the junk food and take in that much-needed cash.
Besides… GLP1 agonist medications are thing now!
All you need.