Customers raise their phones, intently watching Nid prepare her bestselling Thai tea in Bangkok's old quarter. She pours in condensed milk, adds 12 spoonfuls of sugar, then fills a plastic bag with ice and tea. This rich, sweet drink has made the 68-year-old woman's stall famous across social media.

"I prepare it this way to please my customers," Nid stated.

However, this practice runs counter to the Thai government's efforts to improve public health. Data shows that Thai citizens consume an average of 21 spoonfuls of sugar daily, significantly exceeding the 6-spoon recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO). Sugary drinks are considered the primary culprit, positioning Thailand among Asian countries with the highest caloric intake from such beverages.

Nid, owner of a tea and coffee stall in Bangkok's old quarter, Thailand, has been selling her globally famous, super-sweet beverages for 30 years. Photo: Rebecca Ratcliffe/The Guardian

To address this, the government implemented a sugar excise tax on pre-packaged beverages in 2017. This February, the campaign expanded to freshly prepared drinks, with 9 major coffee chains in Thailand committing to halve the sugar content in their "normal sweet" options.

The government's latest initiative includes some of the country's largest coffee chains. Many establishments have installed signs allowing customers to choose sweetness levels from 0-100%. Under the new regulations, the 100% sweetness level for some drinks will contain only half the sugar amount compared to before.

Associate Professor Pojjana Hunchangsith at Mahidol University believes the policy is proving effective, as many manufacturers are proactively changing their formulas. "However, the biggest challenge lies with street stalls. The bubble tea, iced cocoa, and iced Thai milk tea sold here are a huge source of sugar but remain outside regulatory control," Pojjana emphasized.

To change consumer behavior, Associate Professor Phumsith Mahasuweerachai from Khon Kaen University suggests that stores displaying signs for 0-100% sweetness options is a smart move. "Without such suggestions, customers would automatically order sugary drinks out of habit," he remarked.

Change is gradually occurring. Phakamas, 39, shared that she now treats herself to only one or two glasses of iced cocoa each week to maintain her health.

Despite this, for traditional vendors like Nid, reducing sugar remains a distant prospect. Looking at the long line of tourists waiting, she waved her hand and asserted, "Without sugar, the tea and coffee would be bitter. Customers come here precisely for the inherent rich flavor."

According to the WHO, regular consumption of sugary beverages, including bubble tea and soft drinks, is a proven risk factor for weight gain, obesity, and diabetes.

Obesity is rapidly increasing in Asia. In Vietnam, for example, the rate of overweight and obese children aged 5-19 reached 19% in 2020, exceeding the Southeast Asian regional average of 17,3%.

To prevent the health consequences of sugary drinks, six Southeast Asian nations: Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei, have officially implemented excise taxes on high-sugar products.

Minh Phuong (According to The Guardian)