Low and No' drinks for the health-conscious

In 2024, a year-long trend emerged from Dry January, with health-conscious consumers increasingly opting for low- or no-sugar, salt, alcohol, carb, and caffeine drinks, prompting restaurants and beverage brands to adapt.

- Cherie Lok

In 2024, dry January turned into a year-long trend. Diners swapped their champagne flutes for skinny glasses of sparkling tea, equally effervescent and tinged a similar shade of gold.

Cans of health-conscious juices and teas started jostling for shelf space alongside established offerings like beer and wine.

As Singapore stepped up its fight against the twin threats of sugar and salt—in August, it was announced that Nutri-Grade labels would extend to salt, sauces, seasonings, instant noodles and cooking oil, in addition to beverages—it seemed the message had hit home.

According to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Singaporeans are consuming less sugar. He said in an Aug 22 speech at the World Organisation of Family Doctors Asia Pacific Regional Conference that many producers have reformulated beverages to "suit the newly evolved taste," a development he attributed to the labelling of drinks in line with their sugar levels.

This shift was echoed in a 2024 survey conducted by consumer intelligence firm NielsenIQ, in which respondents from Singapore indicated that they would be most willing to pay for options with low or no sugar, salt, alcohol, carbs or caffeine.

In response to these preferences, restaurants have rolled out a more extensive menu of healthy, non-alcoholic options.