THE Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy has called on the government and local authorities to require all licensed food establishments to provide drinking water to customers free of charge, describing it as a simple and cost-effective public health measure.
The policy think tank said the requirement should apply to restaurants, cafés, food courts, mamak shops, fast-food outlets and other licensed food premises through legislation, licensing conditions or food establishment regulations.
Galen Centre chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib said access to free drinking water should not depend on a customer’s ability or willingness to purchase bottled water or other beverages.
“Access to free drinking water should not depend on whether a customer is willing or able to buy bottled water, a sweetened drink or a hot beverage,” he said.
“In a country facing a worsening obesity and non-communicable disease crisis, plain drinking water must be made the easiest, most accessible and most affordable choice.”
Azrul noted that Malaysians continue to consume high levels of sugar-sweetened beverages, contributing to rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
He cited findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023, which showed that one in five Malaysian adults do not consume enough plain water daily.
“When free water is not readily available, customers are often nudged towards sugar-sweetened beverages, flavoured drinks, carbonated drinks, milk teas, juices and other high-calorie options,” he noted.
He added that the impact is particularly significant among children, adolescents, low-income households and individuals who frequently eat outside the home.
According to Azrul, more than half of Malaysian adults are now overweight or obese, while one in five is living with diabetes.
“A requirement for free drinking water would not solve the problem of NCDs. However, it is an important baseline measure. It sends a clear public health signal that water is the default beverage, not an optional extra,” he stressed.
He pointed to international examples where free drinking water is already provided in food establishments.
These include Spain, where restaurants and bars are required to offer free tap water, as well as regulations in the United Kingdom, Australia and India that ensure access to drinking water for patrons.
Azrul said Malaysia could adapt similar measures by incorporating free drinking water requirements into business licensing and food handling regulations.
“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,” he said. ‒ July 1, 2026
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