Booze ban: Thailand's one million heavy drinkers face serious health and withdrawal issues

 

File photo

 

A leading advocate for quitting alcohol has welcomed the ban on alcohol in many areas and provinces as a way of fighting the coronavirus. 

 

But its sudden implementation could have a devastating effect on alcoholics. 

 

Just making heavy drinkers go cold turkey is not the answer to the problem of alcoholism, said Dr Sawitree Assanangkornchai.

 

In fact it could make people seriously ill and make them require urgent medical intervention.

 

Casual drinkers may not be affected that much, she said, but Thailand is thought to have up to a million people who depend on alcohol. 

 

 

Of these about 5-10% or up to 100,000 people have severe alcoholism, she told PPTV.

 

The blanket ban on alcohol could result in severe effects for these people.

 

In stage one after 6-36 hours people's hands start to shake and irritability and headache begin. Other symptoms at this stage are high blood pressure with the increased possibility of stroke. Intestinal problems, vomiting and being off one's food follows.

 

In stage two after no alcohol for one to three days, alcoholics get sweats, increased heart rate, whole body shakes and stomach problems. 

 

In stage 3 in two to four days since stopping drinking, alcoholics head for mental breakdown. Mental health issues can include paranoia. People forget what day and what time it is. This can be dangerous. 

 

Many alcoholics should seek medical intervention if their symptoms get serious, she said. 

 

Alcoholics should try and quit - but the way to do so was not suddenly stopping but a gradual lessening with the aid of drugs administered by a doctor as part of a proper healthcare plan. 

 

The message from the doctor was a thumbs up for the booze ban in the fight against Covid-19 - with the caveat that alcoholics need help to overcome what could be devastating and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Source: PPTV

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-04-14

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Be interesting to see how long it takes then for alchohol withdrawal related deaths to overtake the covid numbers.

2 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Be interesting to see how long it takes then for alchohol withdrawal related deaths to overtake the covid numbers.

It won't be recorded.

I guess they could of used a thai in the photo rather than a falang

4 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Be interesting to see how long it takes then for alchohol withdrawal related deaths to overtake the covid numbers.

Guess the additional deaths caused through starvation, suicide and untreated medical conditions will outnumber the corona death by far.

The doctor makes very good points. It is quite dangerous for a hardcore alcoholic to just stop, they need to be weaned off it like many other drugs.

 

Unfortunately that is probably too complex for the current "government" to contemplate. They'd rather flex their muscles and virtue signal. 

A real alcohol addicted always has booze in stock or can make it himself, within a few days or a week you can make your wine or distilling clean alcohol high grade. Every Thai knows how to do that.

Not sure how this will effect the alcoholics in all the villages, seems no problem with buying beer and whiskey. Makro still selling it where i am, told people are buying and shipping it to other dry, provinces  

 

I can barely type a response, my hands are shaking so much.

11 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

The doctor makes very good points. It is quite dangerous for a hardcore alcoholic to just stop, they need to be weaned off it like many other drugs.

 

Unfortunately that is probably too complex for the current "government" to contemplate. They'd rather flex their muscles and virtue signal. 

Not a big drinker myself but surely all the "hardcore alcoholics" had plenty of time to stock up. It was'nt like they could'nt see it coming

The ban is only for western style stores, people will just buy it elsewhere

 

It will have zero effect on alcoholics, only the increased consumption from bulk buying days before 

Awwww! Maybe an opportune time for them to get a grip of their lives, have a good look in the mirror and change their ways!

6 minutes ago, CraigInBangkok said:

Not a big drinker myself but surely all the "hardcore alcoholics" had plenty of time to stock up. It was'nt like they could'nt see it coming

A lot of Thai villagers (many of whom are hardcore alkies) dont have the money to bulk buy booze in advance. They often buy cigarettes as singles and buy booze in the little "krataeng daeng" bottles. 

 

Some places the ban is almost a month. They wouldn't be able to afford to stock up for that. 

Lets get real here....You can still buy alcohol!!! Just because Lotus follows orders doesnt mean mom and pop at the end of the soi do....get real!

There are only about 5 shops in my village that sell alcohol, limited to Chang, Leo, Lao Khao and Hong Thong. All have stopped selling openly. Wife is pretty sure if you take your own bag to one of them it can still be bought. The problem is now they are all sold out of everything.

 

The villages I am sure have a very high percentage of chronic alcoholics. Many never stop from morning till night. One shop owner joked that no one gets hangovers here as they don't stop drinking long enough.

 

The wifes 75 year old step mother who lives next door is drunk every day (fortunately a 'happy' drunk), never causes us any grief except asking for 3 Baht now and again as she is short to buy a refill with a red bull bottle or a plastic bag 'shot'.

 

I noticed the dependancy my first day with the wife in the village when a drunk farmer stuck his head in our window at 8 AM and wanted to share a beer with the new farang. We did to keep the peace, but had to run out and buy one!

 From a personal view since I moved to Thailand 3 years ago my alcohol consumption has dropped to almost zero (see choices above!) and since the virus arrived, I have had zero alcohol, same as the wife.

 

Thailand the non sense land... head needs to roll ..

4 minutes ago, 248900_1469958220 said:

Lets get real here....You can still buy alcohol!!! Just because Lotus follows orders doesnt mean mom and pop at the end of the soi do....get real!

Let's assume that's true and that mom and pop stores don't restock from Makro and the like, it raises the question - what is the point?

Another pointless topic, IMO. It doesn't take much thought to realise alcoholics, heavy drinkers and social drinkers, would be prepared and have stocked up for the short duration of this ban. And I doubt very much that the scare tactics by this doctor - presumably to oppose the 'cold turkey' ban during the songkran period - would influence alcoholics as most are well aware of their addiction and how to live with it.

 

And yes, I do have sympathy for those unable to quit, which was what I did back in October last year. Now, with my body and palate in synch with my brain, I'm content with a bottle of Heineken 00 at dinner time.

Why is it a problem when it is so easy to buy?

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Let's assume that's true and that mom and pop stores don't restock from Makro and the like, it raises the question - what is the point?

The point of the ban during Songkran is to limit the amount of drunken or social parties where many people congregate and where only one infected could spread the Corona virus to the others. By encouraging self and immediate family isolation, the risk of new cases is lowered.  

 

Common sense, really.

I feel bad for those people whom must drink everyday.

It´s true that every Thai can buy alcohol if they want. I just buy beer yesterday whit own huge bag. Owner say to me come back when is dark and you can buy case or more if want! But If alcohol have sold out or ppl don´t have money to buy it sure is problem for many! Reality is that many small shop is going to die coz this ban! If only sell candy for kids , how they make enough profit!

Edited April 14, 20206 yr by 2 is 1

After drinking for 45 years, I survived the last 24 hours without mental anguish or withdrawal symptoms.   Or did I? ????????

 

The real story is it's complete BS that this is an effictive way to battle the virus. More brainless policy from the fools.

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

The real story is it's complete BS that this is an effictive way to battle the virus. More brainless policy from the fools.

Cheers ???? for that!

I've been off the booze for...I think it must be 15 years and the smokes for 18.  Sometimes I am not sure what time it is, or what day it is...but that's more down to me not wearing a watch which shows the time, date and day.   The only Thing I need to turn up for is 90day reporting and extension renewal!  Usually around the 15th I check the tyre pressure on all the wheels/tyres that need checking...but I may have missed a few 15's! 

I'm going to hoard cleaning products before they get raided too. 

20 minutes ago, kevin612 said:

I feel bad for those people whom must drink everyday.

thanks

18 minutes ago, kevin612 said:

I feel bad for those people whom must drink everyday.

I feel bad for people who must drive a car or motorcycle every day, people who stay with their wives in a loveless marriage, work at jobs they despise, are homophobes, are racist, are negative, are overly political, etc...  Though in reality I don't really care about most people, so I do not waste my time feeling bad about them ????????☮️

1 hour ago, webfact said:

but Thailand is thought to have up to a million people who depend on alcohol. 

Oh come on!

 

Your telling me only 1 in 70 Thai's are alcohol dependent?

 

It is not 1 million it is much much higher....Maybe they do not count Lao Khao? ????

Edited April 14, 20206 yr by meechai