There’s too
much sugar, plain and simple, in the drinks Thais buy
Sweetness has become bitter in Thailand. The
latest survey of our collective health shows just how widespread our addiction
to sugary foods has become - and sweet drinks in particular. Obesity is
worryingly on the rise, along with the number of diabetes sufferers. How is
this for an alarming statistic: Thailand has more obese women than any country
in Asia other than China, the world's most populous nation.
Quite apart from the damage we're doing to
our health, if our bad habits aren't curbed, our healthcare system is about to
be massively burdened.
Thailand has actually become globally
notorious for its sweet tooth, ranking ninth in sugar consumption. Women here
have long consumed sugar in far more excessive amounts than men. And, in a
population of 67 million, 19 million people (28 per cent) are considered
overweight and 7.7 million at risk of life-threatening disease such as
diabetes.
In its 2014-15 study, the Thai Health
Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) found some improvements in our overall
health. The number of smokers had decreased from 19.9 to 16 per cent since
2009, when it conducted its last survey. Alcohol consumption declined from 7.3
to 3.4 per cent. These are excellent developments, but afford little
consolation given the alarming risks we're taking with sugar.
Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Narong
Pipatanasai, presiding at the study's unveiling on Monday, attributed the drop
in smokers and alcohol drinkers to public-awareness campaigns. If he's right,
the campaigners' obvious next target is excessive sugar consumption.
The government has had a start, imposing a
tax on sugary beverages. It hikes the price of drinks containing six to 10
grams of sugar per 100 ml by 20 to 25 per cent. We're optimistic it will do
some good, but there are health experts who doubt its viability in weaning
Thais off sweet beverages, since urbanites tend to care little about extra
cost. The experts insist that more is needed to change consumer behaviour.
It's to be hoped that the government spends
the revenues earned from its sugar tax on efforts that get to the root of this
hazardous behaviour. The price increase alone ought to get people thinking
about the amounts they consume, but the government should also be looking at
the way such drinks are advertised with worrying success. The manufacturers
spend enormous amounts of money promoting their products. Perhaps they can be
persuaded to reduce the sugar level.
The Public Health Ministry should consider
strengthening its regulations on advertising and consider imposing new rules on
labelling, requiring unambiguous health warnings on the packaging.
The sweetened drinks include green tea, iced
coffee and soft drinks, all of which are readily available at convenience
stores, schools and workplaces. ThaiHealth found that children ages 10 to 14
were drinking more sweet beverages than ever, no doubt because the drinks are
always close to hand.
It's become clear that Thais have to start
seeing sugar as potentially lethal, just like cigarettes and alcohol.
ThaiHealth estimates that, if we don't change our dietary habits, up to 10 per
cent of the population will soon be dealing with diabetes. Given the economic
pressure Thailand is already facing with its ageing population, it doesn't need
the additional burdens that obesity would bring across all age categories.
A sugar tax is fine, and restrictions on
advertising would be better, but the best tool would be raising public
awareness about the serious risks involved in consuming too much sugar. Alerted
to the danger and regularly reminded, people will adapt or change their
lifestyles. That's the direction the government has to choose, and hopefully
the manufacturers will assist rather than obstruct such efforts.
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