OPINION: Sugary dinks should also have health warnings like cigarettes

The American Heart Association advises limiting daily added sugar to 25 grams (6 teaspoons) for women and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men.

Cigarette packs come with graphic reminders of what smoking can do to the body, yet sugary drinks that people can buy almost anywhere carry no similarly visible warning about the health risks of consuming too much added sugar.

The Philippines is already dealing with a growing burden of diet-related health problems, with the 2023 National Nutrition Survey finding that nearly 4 in 10 Filipino adults were dealing with obesity.

The Department of Health has also cited diabetes as a major health concern, with 656,115 Filipinos recorded with the disease in 2024 through its Field Health Services Information System, although the figure does not include people who remain undiagnosed.

Sugary drinks are part of that food environment, with research from the University of the Philippines showing that the median total sugar intakes for children and adolescents exceed 25 g/day, with higher-income brackets or specific age groups reaching up to 54.7 g/day.

Filipino children and adolescents consume these sugar levels daily from beverages such as sweetened drinks, powdered beverages, milk tea, and other sugar-added products.

The American Heart Association recommends limiting free sugar consumption to no more than 25 grams or 6 teaspoons for women, and 36 grams or 9 teaspoons for men.

Soft drinks, milk tea, sweetened coffee, and powdered beverages are widely available in stores, schools, and workplaces, making them an easy choice alongside meals.

Water does not offer the same variety of flavors or the sweetness that many consumers have become accustomed to, while sugary drinks are often marketed as refreshments, energy boosters, or small treats.

Visible health warnings on sugary drinks could provide another piece of information at that point of purchase, much like existing warnings on tobacco products.

As the country already confronts rising obesity and diabetes concerns, making the risks of excessive sugar consumption harder to miss could be one small step toward helping Filipinos make more informed choices and building a healthier food environment.

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