India’s Rising Sugar Crisis: Why Regulating Sugary Drinks Is Now Essential

India’s relationship with sugar has changed dramatically in the past decade. What was once consumed mostly through homemade sweets and traditional foods is now increasingly coming from packaged sugary drinks, especially among young, urban populations. This shift is quietly contributing to India’s rapidly increasing burden of lifestyle diseases.

Sugar Consumption in India: A Changing Pattern

India is among the world’s largest consumers of sugar, with annual consumption reaching nearly 30 million metric tons in recent years¹. While this number reflects national dietary habits, what stands out now is the rise of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) as a major source of added sugar.

This rise is directly connected with increasing rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes—conditions that together account for around 66% of all deaths in India².

Who Is Drinking More Sugary Beverages?

National surveys indicate that sugary drink intake is climbing fastest among:

  • Individuals aged 15–39 years³
  • Men
  • Urban and higher-income households

These groups are the main target of beverage marketing, which has contributed to the growing consumption trend.

Health Risks Linked to SSBs

Sugary drinks deliver a high dose of free sugars without providing any nutritional value. Their rapid absorption increases the risk of:

  • Weight gain
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Childhood obesity
  • Early metabolic diseases

WHO continues to warn that regular SSB consumption significantly raises the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular complications⁴.

Regulations in India: What FSSAI Has Done

To increase transparency and protect consumers, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has implemented several important regulations.

  1. Detailed Nutrition Labelling

Packaged beverages must now display:

  • Total sugar
  • Added sugar
  • Energy (kcal)
  • Fat, protein, carbohydrates

This helps consumers compare beverages and understand added sugar levels⁵.

  1. Front-of-Pack Labelling (FoPL)

India has introduced the Indian Nutrition Rating (INR)—a star-based system that highlights products high in fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS). This allows quicker decision-making for people who do not read long labels⁶.

  1. Stopping Misleading ORS Claims

Previously, some beverages with very high sugar content were marketed as ORS, misleading buyers.

FSSAI now prohibits the use of “ORS” unless the drink matches the WHO-approved ORS formula⁷.

  1. Fruit Juice & Juice-Based Drink Standards
  • “100% Fruit Juice” must contain no added sugar.
  • Juice-based drinks must contain a minimum of fruit juice (10%, or 5% for lime/lemon).

This prevents companies from labelling sugary drinks as “juice”⁵.

  1. Protecting School Children

FSSAI restricts the sale and advertisement of HFSS foods and sugary drinks in school canteens and within 50 metres of school campuses⁶. This aims to build healthier food habits from early childhood.

Tax Measures to Reduce Consumption

Currently, India imposes:

  • 28% GST on aerated drinks
  • 12% compensation cess

This creates an effective ~40% tax on many sugary beverages⁸.
Even so, rising incomes and easy access reduce its impact. Public health experts suggest a tiered sugar tax, where drinks with higher sugar content carry higher taxes, similar to policies in the UK and Mexico.

Lessons From Tobacco Control

Several successful strategies from India’s tobacco control program can be applied to sugary drinks:

  • Clear, large warning labels
  • Higher taxes
  • Advertising restrictions
  • School-area protections
  • Public education campaigns

Countries such as Chile have already adapted tobacco-style warnings for sugary foods, with promising results.

A Way Forward for India

Reducing SSB consumption will require coordinated efforts, including:

  • Strong enforcement of labelling laws
  • Widely recognizable warning labels
  • Higher sugar-based taxation
  • Awareness programs in schools and communities
  • Reformulation of beverages to reduce sugar
  • Continuous monitoring of consumption data

By combining strong policy, public awareness, and industry reform, India can significantly reduce sugar-related diseases in the coming years.

 References

  1. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (2023). Sugar: World Markets and Trade.
    https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/

 

https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/india-sugar-annual-9(report)

  1. World Health Organization (2022). Noncommunicable Diseases Country Profile: India.
    https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases
  2. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (2019–2021). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5).
    https://nhm.gov.in
  3. World Health Organization (2023). Sugary Drink Consumption and Health Risks.
    https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet
  4. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (2020). Packaging & Labelling Regulations.
    https://fssai.gov.in/
  5. FSSAI (2022). Front-of-Pack Labelling Draft Notification.
    https://fssai.gov.in/
  6. World Health Organization (2023). Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) Formula.
    https://www.who.int
  7. GST Council of India (2024). GST Rates on Aerated Beverages.
    https://gstcouncil.gov.in/