A growing number of countries around the world such as France, Mexico and Finland have implemented taxing on excessive sugar levels in soft drinks with Britain as the latest one to have announced its plan earlier this month to start the tax in two years' time to cut down childhood obesity.
In Thailand, the levy on sugary drinks has been discussed and studied by several governments in the past but has yet to be put into effect. Last month, however, the Ministry of Finance assigned the Excise Department to submit plans to broaden its tax base of additional products including beverages with high sugar content which are apparently harmful to health.
Whether or not such a tax policy will eventually be enforced and make manufacturers' blood boil is still in question. But speaking from a medical perspective, Asst Prof Wantanee Kriengsinyos, head of the Human Nutrition Division, Mahidol University Institute of Nutrition, said measures to curb excessive sugar intake among Thais are crucial given it is detrimental to health. Yet action from not just the government but also from all parties involved are required to make them happen.
"The consumption of sugary, greasy and salty diets beyond moderation is all deleterious. And it is likely to lead to non-communicable diseases," said Wantanee.
Medical reports have revealed shocking numbers with regard to sugar consumption and its impact among Thai people. According to Wantanee, who is also programme director of the Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Thais consume a lot more sugar each day than they should.
Wantanee cited statistics from 1997 to 2010 which show a sharp increase in the amount of sugar intake among Thai consumers. In 1997, an average Thai was reported to consume 28kg of sugar per year. Thirteen years later, they consumed 33.8kg a year.
"This is equivalent to around 92g or 23 teaspoons of sugar per day. But the recommended sugar intake level is only four to eight teaspoons per person per day," she explained.
Without a doubt, too much sugar intake will cost us in the long run. The 2015 Thai Health Report carried out by Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the National Health Commission Office of Thailand also unveiled that Thailand ranks second place in Asean when it comes to the prevalence of obesity. Malaysia comes in first place, with poor eating habits and inadequate physical activity to blame.
Despite its ability to please the taste buds, especially for those with a sweet tooth, sugar is in fact defined as giving "empty energy", added Wantanee. And by empty energy, she means sugar yields energy with zero nutritional value.
"For generally healthy people, sugar barely has health-related benefits," she said. "For many, adding some sugar can, nonetheless, make eating more pleasurable. Sugar can also be used in the food preservation process."
Some might argue that the human body needs energy from sugar to survive. But Wantanee explained that the truth is our main source of energy is carbohydrates. Even protein gives less energy than carbs.
"The human body needs carbohydrates," she noted. "When we eat things like rice, spaghetti and bread, the body digests them and converts them into glucose. The body's cells then run on glucose. And we also receive sugar from fruits."
Not only does sugar bring about non-communicable diseases and obesity both in adults and kids, excessive sugar consumption can also lead to problems such as tooth decay, especially for children aged three to 12.
"Bacteria in the mouth feeds on sugar. And if you fail to brush your teeth properly, it might cause tooth decay," she added.
Despite the adverse health impacts of sugar, its use in this country has been constantly on the rise. About 1.7 tonnes of sugar were reported to be used in food preparation processes in 1997. In 2009, Thailand saw 1.97 tonnes of sugar being put into food.
"We need sugar for only 10% of the entire energy we use in a day. We do not need that much."
The nutrition expert does not recommend consumers opt for sugary drinks on a regular basis, such as after every meal. Even if they are labelled as herbal beverages, consumers must be careful before consumption because many of them are actually low on herbs but high on sugar.
"Water is the best drink," she commented. "Drinking sugary beverages from time to time is acceptable and can sometimes make your meal more enjoyable. But if we drink them so often that we become addicted to it, then we will gain excess energy. And we do not want to work out just to burn those extra calories that we are not supposed to have in the first place." Wantanee personally agrees with the policy of taxing sugary drinks to a certain extent. But she is of the opinion that such a protocol needs to be studied thoroughly given the issue is quite complicated and there are so many tiny details to take into account.
But she strongly believes that besides the levy, several other efforts must be put in place to curb people's sugar consumption.
"If more tax is added to sugary drinks, not everyone will be affected by the higher price," she said. "All parties concerned must work together to educate the public about the harmful impacts of excessive sugar intake. But education alone is still not enough. Products must also be improved from the manufacturers' side. Alternative products should also be made available for those who crave sweetness."