(PHNOM PENH) — Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, has issued a strong directive to safeguard the nation’s youth, demanding a complete ban on the consumption, sale, and advertising of all energy drinks within and around the premises of general education institutions nationwide.
The decisive action was announced in his official message for the 12th National Nutrition Day (2025), which was held under the crucial theme: “Nutrition for Peace, Peace for Nutrition.” The Prime Minister underscored the profound and inseparable link between food security, optimal nutrition, and long-term social stability, positioning the health of Cambodia’s children as the foundation of national peace and prosperity.
1. 🤝 The Inseparable Link: Nutrition and Peace
PM Hun Manet emphasized that a well-nourished population is a prerequisite for a stable and prosperous society. He highlighted the following key points on the relationship between the two:
- Peace as the Primary Enabler: Peace is the first essential condition that allows citizens to cultivate crops, engage in economic activities, and secure food security and nutrition. Without peace, these efforts are impossible.
- Nutrition Drives Stability: A society where citizens have adequate food security and nutrition is inherently stronger, more resilient, and more stable. Malnutrition, conversely, undermines social well-being and is a root cause of instability.
- Holistic Development: The focus on nutrition is not merely a health issue but a critical component of the government’s development goals, aligning with the Pentagonal Strategy—Phase I to develop human capital and achieve the Kingdom’s 2050 vision.
2. 🚨 Zero Tolerance: The School Energy Drink Ban
In a clear move to address the rising threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes among the youth, which he noted are often linked to poor dietary habits, PM Hun Manet laid down an unambiguous regulation:
- Mandatory Prohibition: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) has been instructed to strictly enforce the prohibition of all types of energy drinks—including their consumption, distribution, display, sale, and commercial advertisement—in and around all public and private general education institutions.
- Protecting Future Capital: The Premier stressed the need to protect the physical and mental health of Cambodian children, who represent the nation’s most vital resource for future development. This measure aims to limit the intake of high sugar, fat, and salt products.
- Widespread Concern: The decision follows reports showing a concerning increase in diabetes cases among young Cambodians, prompting the government to take a proactive stance on student diets.
3. 🌾 Strategic Directives for Enhancing National Nutrition
The Prime Minister further outlined a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to tackle malnutrition in all its forms across the Kingdom:
- Modernizing Agriculture: Continuously strengthening the agricultural sector to be modern, diverse, and resilient to ensure both food security and food safety for the populace.
- Dietary Awareness at Home: The Premier appealed directly to citizens to reduce the use of salt, sugar, fat, and artificial flavor enhancers in their cooking to protect the health of their families.
- Scaling Up School Feeding Programs: Calling on relevant ministries to expand and improve school nutrition programs by prioritizing the use of agricultural products grown by local communities. This initiative is intended to boost both local economies and students’ nutritional awareness.
4. 🤝 A Call for Collective and Sustained Action
Concluding his message, PM Hun Manet issued a call to action for all stakeholders to ensure the long-term success of these national goals:
- Preserving Peace: He urged all parties to remain dedicated to performing their duties and working together to preserve the hard-won peace that serves as the foundation for all progress.
- Inter-sectoral Cooperation: He emphasized the need for ongoing cooperation, coordination, and investment across the agriculture, health, education, and other relevant sectors to eliminate all forms of malnutrition.
- Commitment to 2050 Vision: All collective efforts are geared toward strengthening human capital, boosting work efficiency, and promoting national economic growth, ultimately guiding Cambodia toward its vision of becoming a high-income country by 2050.