Forum: Coffee shops should reconsider policies that bar patrons from using personal water bottles
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A recent video on social media showed an argument at a coffee shop over its ban on outside food and drinks, including personal water bottles.
With increasing awareness of the health risks associated with excessive sugar consumption, people should be encouraged to choose water over sweetened beverages whenever possible.
Against this backdrop, coffee shops should reconsider policies that bar patrons from using their own water bottles on the premises.
Policies that effectively discourage people from carrying and choosing water appear inconsistent with the broader public health message encouraging Singaporeans to reduce their sugar intake.
We should be creating an environment where choosing water is easy and convenient, rather than one where people feel compelled to buy a sweetened drink simply because they are in a coffee shop.
Lim Fu Kang