Thailand Isn’t Cutting Sugar. It’s Changing the Default Sweetness Level

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English Version | 中文版本


Thailand is not banning sugar, and it is not asking people to stop drinking sweet beverages.

Instead, the country is changing something more subtle: the default sweetness level.

Starting February 11, drinks sold at participating cafés and beverage chains will use 50% sweetness as the default setting, rather than full sugar. The guideline is led by the Thailand Department of Health in collaboration with major operators.

Recipes are not being reformulated, and higher sweetness levels remain available by request. What changes is the baseline used when no preference is specified.

By adjusting defaults rather than restricting choice, Thailand is testing whether everyday habits can shift quietly over time.

English Version | 中文版本

Reference: Thailand Department of Health (กรมอนามัย)

Location: Thailand

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