The Department of Health has warned people, especially children, to reduce their intake of sugary drinks after learning that a quarter of youths aged six to 24 years consume them regularly.
It found that people in this age bracket have tea, coffee and other sugar-sweetened beverages once or twice a week. About 31% of people aged 45-59 and 27.4% of those aged 25-44 consume such beverages daily.
Ekkachai Piansriwatchara, the department's deputy director-general, said many people add sugar to their beverages, which has been associated with obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
He said parents and schools should pay attention to children's diets and limit their sugar intake to four teaspoons a day to help them maintain a healthy weight.