How do milk tea brands justify high caffeine content amid 'quasi-drug' accusations?
Chinese milk tea chains faced public backlash after reports showed their products contain more caffeine than coffee. For example, a large cup of Chagee's Wanli Mulan contains roughly 204 mg of caffeine, while a Starbucks latte has about 177 mg. Critics labeled these drinks 'quasi-drugs' due to caffeine's classification as a Category II psychotropic substance. However, Shanghai's anti-drug authority clarified that toxicity depends on dosage, noting an adult can safely consume up to 1,524 grams of liquid milk tea daily without other caffeine sources. The brands' defense rests on the fact that their caffeine derives from natural tea leaves, not synthetic additives. This distinction is legally significant: the psychotropic substance catalog applies to pure caffeine and its single preparations, not to plant-based beverages. The controversy highlights growing consumer awareness of caffeine intake and the need for transparent labeling in the functional beverage sector.
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