"Exempted From Military Service After Binge-Drinking 'This' for 3 Months... The Beverage He Drank Two Cups of Every Day"

Bubble tea image. Pexels

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The story of a Thai man who rapidly gained weight by drinking bubble tea in order to avoid military service has become a hot topic.

According to recent reports from The Bangkok Post and other sources, a man identified as Mr. A from Mueang District, Chachoengsao Province, Thailand, was recently excluded from conscription after being deemed 'unfit' during his military physical examination. It was reported that Mr. A deliberately increased his weight in a short period of time, exceeding the required standard.

During the examination, Mr. A stated, "For about three months, I drank two cups of bubble tea every day." As a result, he gained approximately 30 kilograms, and his body mass index (BMI) surpassed 35, meeting the threshold for military service exemption. In Thailand, those with a BMI above a certain standard are classified as physically unfit for military service and therefore excluded from conscription.

When a military examiner asked if he planned to lose weight in the future, Mr. A replied, "Now that I've been exempted, I'll start dieting right away, beginning this evening."

The Bangkok Post reported that this story has spread online, sparking various reactions. One netizen expressed concern, saying, "He may have avoided two years of military service, but he'll have to live with health issues like diabetes for the rest of his life."

A Thai man who successfully gained about 30 kg by binge-drinking bubble tea for three months and received the benefit of 'military service exemption.' The Bangkok Post

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Bubble tea is considered a typical high-sugar, high-calorie beverage. Generally, a single cup (about 500 mL) contains between 300 and 500 kcal, and the calorie content increases further with the addition of tapioca pearls, syrup, and cream.

In particular, even a small amount of tapioca pearls provides a high number of calories, so just one cup can contribute a significant calorie intake. When sugar is added on top of that, it can easily lead to weight gain.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting daily sugar intake to less than 10% of total energy intake (about 50 grams or less), and, if possible, reducing it to 25 grams or less. However, even a single cup of bubble tea can exceed this recommended amount.

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