70-cent coffee and tea for Hong Kah North seniors twice a week – if they order it sugar-free
Published on
20 Dec 2024
Published by
The Straits Times
SINGAPORE – Seniors in Hong Kah North who choose to go sugar-free for their daily caffeine fix will get their drinks at nearly half price two days a week, in a trial to encourage healthier socialising.
All 12 coffee shops in the constituency have agreed to slash the prices of coffee and tea without sugar from about $1.20 to 70 cents every Wednesday and Friday, from Dec 20 to the middle of 2025.
Hong Kah North MP Amy Khor announced the initiative at an event on Dec 20 held at one of the participating coffee shops – Chang Cheng Mee Wah Coffeeshop at Block 324 Bukit Batok Street 33 – attended by about 65 seniors. Anybody aged 60 and above is eligible for the discount.
Dr Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, said in a speech: “We want you to be more active and healthier when you meet your friends, and that is why we are doing this, to prevent social isolation.”
At the same event, the Hong Kah North Active Ageing Committee held a health education and physical activity session conducted by staff from the National University Health System and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.
Known as Seniors Tea-Time, the event will take place monthly and rotate among the 12 participating coffee shops.
The coffee shops are not being compensated for the discounts.
The owner of Chang Cheng Mee Wah Coffeeshop, Mr Soh Chiang Cheng, said he agreed to slash prices to support healthier living among his patrons.
“With the incidence of diabetes in Singapore rising, I wanted to help encourage people to order their coffee or tea sugar-free,” he said.
Aside from supporting the physical health of seniors, the programme is also meant to guard against social isolation, said Dr Khor.
In an interview on the sidelines of the event, she said: “In the older part of the estate, there is probably a higher percentage of the elderly (than the national average), and increasingly I see more of them living alone or just with their husband or wife.”
She added that she has observed it is a little harder to get men to join community programmes at community centres or void decks, but many do not mind coming down to the coffee shop to have a drink and socialise, and many already do.
She said: “We think that it’s good to encourage them to come and enjoy more affordable coffee at least once or twice a week, and at the same time make friends and learn to drink and eat healthier.
“We have been wanting to see how we can engage residents where they are more comfortable, in locations where they are already at... and this is all to promote active ageing.”
Dr Khor added that social isolation is a real risk that needs attention through programmes that encourage seniors to leave their homes and interact with the community.
Rising prices have been a concern to some residents at the event, such as consultant Steven Tiong, 69.
He said he has seen the price of coffee, which he drinks every day, rise consistently over the past few years. “It’s very hard to find coffee for 70 cents anywhere now.”
To housewife Asiah Adam, 65, the discount is a bonus to her and her group of friends who gather to chat at the coffee shop every Friday, often taking up to two tables for much of the day.
Madam Asiah, who has lived in the block across the road from Chang Cheng Mee Wah for about 20 years, said the weekly visit is part of her routine when she takes her laundry to the laundromat.
She lives alone with her husband now that her two children have families of their own.
When asked if she usually takes her coffee black, she said: “Sometimes. (Coffee) without sugar... okay I will try.”
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Reproduced with permission.
ALL views, content, information and/or materials expressed / presented by any third party apart from Council For Third Age, belong strictly to such third party. Any such third party views, content, information and/or materials provided herein are for convenience and/or general information purposes only. Council For Third Age shall not be responsible nor liable for any injury, loss or damage whatsoever arising directly or indirectly howsoever in connection with or as a result of any person accessing or acting on any such views, content, information and/or materials. Such third party views, content, information and/or materials do not imply and shall not be construed as a representation, warranty, endorsement and/or verification by Council For Third Age in respect of such views, content, information and/or materials.
