Thai Drinks Get Less Sweet: Big Chains Cut Sugar

In an effort to curb high sugar consumption, nine of Thailand's major coffee chains have agreed to reduce the default sweetness in some of their popular beverages. This initiative seeks to recalibrate the nation's taste preferences and improve public health, addressing the fact that Thais consume an average of 21 teaspoons of sugar daily, significantly more than the World Health Organization's recommended six teaspoons. Sugary drinks are a primary contributor to this high intake, with Thailand historically being a large consumer of calories from sweetened beverages.

While Thailand implemented a sugar tax in phases starting in 2017, targeting pre-packaged drinks and successfully encouraging manufacturers to lower sugar levels, this measure does not extend to street vendors or cafes. These establishments, offering a wide array of sweet options, are important sources of sugar intake but are more challenging to regulate. The latest government campaign specifically targets these larger cafe chains, where 100% sweetness will now be half as sugary as before. Research suggests that simple nudges, like offering customers choices in sweetness levels, can encourage healthier selections, highlighting the difficulty consumers face in making better choices automatically.