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A Malaysian health policy think tank has urged the government to require restaurants and food outlets to provide free drinking water, saying it is one of the easiest ways to encourage healthier habits
According to Bernama, the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said such a move could help reduce Malaysians' sugar intake and lower the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Its chief executive officer, Azrul Mohd Khalib, said Malaysia's health challenges are not only caused by excessive food intake, but also by the high consumption of sugary drinks.
Citing findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, he said one in five Malaysian adults do not drink enough plain water daily. Other national nutrition data also shows that sugar-sweetened beverages continue to be a regular part of many Malaysians' diets.
As a result, more than half (54.4%) of Malaysian adults are now overweight or obese, while 15.6% are living with diabetes
"Obesity increases the risk of developing metabolic diseases such as diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and cancer, while also contributing to premature deaths," Azrul said.
He added that the growing burden of obesity and related diseases also drives up healthcare costs, placing greater financial pressure on families, employers, insurers, and the country's public healthcare system.
Azrul said that when drinking water is unavailable or sold at a high price, customers may be more likely to order sugar-sweetened beverages instead
These, he said, included soft drinks, flavoured beverages, bubble tea, milk tea, fruit juices, and other high-calorie drinks.
He also called on the Ministry of Health and local authorities to introduce laws or licensing requirements requiring all restaurants and licensed food establishments to provide free drinking water.
According to him, this would help make water the default drink of choice for Malaysians.
Acknowledging that free drinking water alone would not solve Malaysia's NCD crisis, Azrul said it would be an important first step towards creating a healthier food environment
He pointed to countries that have already implemented similar measures, noting that Spain requires bars and restaurants to offer free tap water, while licensed premises serving alcohol in the UK must provide free tap water upon request where reasonably available.
"Customers should not have to pay extra just to choose the healthiest drink. Making free drinking water available in restaurants is one of the simplest public health interventions we can implement. It is practical, affordable, and fair. We can do it today. Let's make the healthy choice the easy choice," he said.
