A Thai child sipping on sugary drink. (Bangkok Post)
Thailand’s high-street coffee chains will introduce a new national standard for freshly brewed drinks from February 11, requiring “normal sweetness” orders to contain only 50% of the original sugar level. The policy, led by the Department of Health and supported by major chains such as Café Amazon and Black Canyon, aims to address rising non-communicable diseases.
Officials said the change is designed to gradually reduce consumers’ sugar intake without imposing a ban. Under the rule, a 450g cup of coffee or Thai milk tea will contain about 3.3 to 3.7 teaspoons of sugar, supporting Thailand’s Sugar Tax programme, which is expected to generate 578.2 billion baht (US$18.2 million) in 2026.
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