Thailand Reduces Sugar in Coffee and Tea to Combat Rising Health Risks
Government and major beverage chains halve default sugar levels in popular drinks to curb obesity and diabetes
Thailand has launched a nationwide initiative to significantly cut the sugar content in coffee, tea and other made-to-order beverages as part of a major public health drive.
Starting this week, nine major coffee chains including Café Amazon, Inthanin and All Café have agreed to reduce the default sugar level in “normal sweetness” drinks to half of their traditional recipes.
The move reflects growing concern among Thai health officials about excessive sugar consumption, which far exceeds global recommendations and is linked to rising rates of non-communicable diseases.
The Department of Health’s “Normal Sweetness = 50 % Sweetness” guideline, effective from February 11, resets the standard sugar level in freshly brewed drinks so that customers ordering at the default setting automatically receive beverages with only half the usual sugar content.
The policy draws on behavioural economics principles to change consumption patterns without eliminating sweetness entirely; customers can still request higher sweetness if they prefer.
Thai authorities say the public’s average daily sugar intake of around twenty-one teaspoons — more than three times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of six teaspoons — contributes to escalating rates of obesity and diabetes.
Department of Health officials emphasise that resetting the default sweetness level above all is aimed at gradually shifting taste preferences toward healthier norms and reducing the burden of diet-related diseases.
The sugar-cutting campaign builds on Thailand’s longstanding efforts to promote better nutrition, including earlier beverage tax policies and public health campaigns.
The new guideline has been developed in consultation with private sector partners and regulatory agencies to ensure broad adoption, with the goal of reshaping beverage consumption patterns across urban and provincial markets alike.
Starting this week, nine major coffee chains including Café Amazon, Inthanin and All Café have agreed to reduce the default sugar level in “normal sweetness” drinks to half of their traditional recipes.
The move reflects growing concern among Thai health officials about excessive sugar consumption, which far exceeds global recommendations and is linked to rising rates of non-communicable diseases.
The Department of Health’s “Normal Sweetness = 50 % Sweetness” guideline, effective from February 11, resets the standard sugar level in freshly brewed drinks so that customers ordering at the default setting automatically receive beverages with only half the usual sugar content.
The policy draws on behavioural economics principles to change consumption patterns without eliminating sweetness entirely; customers can still request higher sweetness if they prefer.
Thai authorities say the public’s average daily sugar intake of around twenty-one teaspoons — more than three times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of six teaspoons — contributes to escalating rates of obesity and diabetes.
Department of Health officials emphasise that resetting the default sweetness level above all is aimed at gradually shifting taste preferences toward healthier norms and reducing the burden of diet-related diseases.
The sugar-cutting campaign builds on Thailand’s longstanding efforts to promote better nutrition, including earlier beverage tax policies and public health campaigns.
The new guideline has been developed in consultation with private sector partners and regulatory agencies to ensure broad adoption, with the goal of reshaping beverage consumption patterns across urban and provincial markets alike.
