Shift default beverage choice away from sugar

I WRITE to strongly support the call by the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy to make free drinking water mandatory across all food establishments, from high-end restaurants to mamak outlets (“Make free drinking water mandatory in eateries”, The Star, July 6; online at bit.ly/4vt6kBT).

It is a simple, practical, and long-overdue public health intervention.

As we grapple with a severe non-communicable disease crisis, obesity, and diabetes, public health policy must make the healthiest choice the easiest choice.

According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, a staggering one in five Malaysian adults do not drink enough plain water daily, while sugar-sweetened beverages remain deeply embedded in our daily diet.

When eateries charge ridiculous prices for a basic glass of water they actively nudge consumers towards heavily sweetened, high-calorie alternatives like soft drinks and processed teas.

This commercial practice heavily penalises low-income families and children who merely seek basic hydration.

Drinking water is essential for survival and wellness. It regulates body temperature, lubricates joints, transports nutrients, and flushes waste. Proper hydration prevents dehydration, which can cause fatigue, headaches, and impaired cognitive function,

Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental necessity. It should never depend on a customer’s willingness or ability to purchase overpriced bottled water.

Other nations have already set successful precedents; Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, and India have established regulations ensuring patrons have access to free tap or potable water. We must learn from these examples and adapt them swiftly.

We need immediate, coordinated action from the Health Ministry, Housing and Local Government Ministry and local councils.

Providing free drinking water should be made a non-negotiable condition for securing and renewing business licences and food handling certifications.

This is a fair, affordable, and common-sense strategy to shift our national default beverage choice away from sugar.

Let us act now to safeguard the vital long-term health and well-being of all citizens across the nation without any further delay.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE

Kuala Lumpur