MOPH: Drinking alcohol increases risk of contracting COVID

[webfact]

Picture: INN

 

The director of the Health Department told INN why allowing people to drink in pubs and bars and nightclubs was a very bad idea.

 

And why alcohol was such a menace when it comes to the spread of Covid.

 

Dr Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai trotted out a list of reasons as long as his surname, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

The practicalities of sitting in a bar were paramount - people would stay in close proximity for a long time and forget themselves and forget the rules. 

 

But there are medical reasons.

 

"Alcohol causes the muscles in the neck around the pharynx to be less effective," he said.

 

"Thus allowing Covid to more easily penetrate and get into the lungs.

 

"In addition alcohol weakens the white blood cells when Covid-19 germs enter the body," he continued.

 

""So it's easy to get infected."

 

He said that social distancing is often forgotten and people don't wear masks when imbibing further increasing the hazards associated with alcohol consumption.

 

He claimed that a department poll of the general public conducted in the first two weeks of November indicated that 56.8% didn't want any changes to the alcohol serving rules.

 

The ones that did sided with bar owners and the opening up of the economy, he noted. 

 

Elsewhere today on ASEAN NOW a Chonburi tourism business leader took aim at many restrictions including the alcohol ban and the fact that pubs, bars and nightclubs have mostly been ordered to stay shut. 

 

Although not a doctor he said that it was putting off tourists coming to Thailand and that certain restrictions were ridiculous especially as alcohol was readily available outside clubs that remain shut. 

 

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[fangless]

What was he drinking when he spouted this nonsense?

[Thaiwrath]

[Pumpuynarak]

But there are medical reasons.

 

"Alcohol causes the muscles in the neck around the pharynx to be less effective," he said.

 

"Thus allowing Covid to more easily penetrate and get into the lungs.

 

"In addition alcohol weakens the white blood cells when Covid-19 germs enter the body," he continued.

 

""So it's easy to get infected."

 

 

[Snig27]

Has he considered contacting WHO with this new medical data. They’ll be thrilled to get some unique research every other nation on the planet has missed.

[Snig27]

1 minute ago, Snig27 said:

Has he considered contacting WHO with this new medical data. They’ll be thrilled to get some unique research every other nation on the planet has missed.

He could also pass on the data supporting the way they disinfected the forest streams and beaches. 

[Captain Monday]

Rubbish

[Misterwhisper]

12 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Alcohol causes the muscles in the neck around the pharynx to be less effective," he said.

 

"Thus allowing Covid to more easily penetrate and get into the lungs.

And this man heads the Health Department???? Honestly?! Oh dear, oh dear...

[Gsxrnz]

I think the good doctor with the alphabet soup name is confusing his pharynx with his sphincter, and he's talking out of the latter.

[smedly]

I want to know how he got his job 

 

That is of more public interest than the garbage that comes out his mouth

[HaoleBoy]

The practicalities of sitting in a bar were paramount - people would stay in close proximity for a long time and forget themselves and forget the rules. 

 

But there are medical reasons ...

 

If this is all true, then why are bars allowed to open in Phuket?  One of the deputy ministers of health was down in Phuket observing the bars along Bangla Rd to see how / if these establishments were obeying the social distancing and such.

[4MyEgo]

17 minutes ago, webfact said:

The practicalities of sitting in a bar were paramount - people would stay in close proximity for a long time and forget themselves and forget the rules. 

The same could be said for the restaurants I saw last night, packed like sardine cans, again, same could be said for the school minivans, I could go on, but we all know that this regime wants these establishments closed down for good.

[phills2k1]

Let's call a spade a spade here. Opening bars/clubs is absolutely going to cause a rise in cases. It's just logic that masses of people in tight spaces who are there for a while and talking more loudly will do that. 

 

However, with the vaccinations, you can't delay it forever, so just rip the bandaid now (and I say this as someone who was labeled a doomsayer back in April and May).  These poor people have suffered enough financially

[Andycoops]

The top medical brains in Thailand come up with something the top scientists in the world couldn't.

Amazing.

Pure and unadulterated mumbo jumbo all done at the behest of the chief Muppet and usurper.

No doubt he's in line for a promotion.

[JonnyF]

Obviously this phenomenon does not occur in Bangkok. Or Phuket. In those places, the neck muscles remain tight.

 

But consume alcohol elsewhere and the muscles in the neck relax to invite Covid into the body.

 

Packed like sardines on the BTS is fine. But sitting next to someone in a restaurant is dangerous (but only if the drink on the table contains alcohol).

 

What a clown.

 

 

[Gottfrid]

22 minutes ago, fangless said:

What was he drinking when he spouted this nonsense?

Ok, then you explain what is wrong with what he say. You seems to be the expert:

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

"Alcohol causes the muscles in the neck around the pharynx to be less effective," he said.

 

"Thus allowing Covid to more easily penetrate and get into the lungs.

 

"In addition alcohol weakens the white blood cells when Covid-19 germs enter the body," he continued.

 

""So it's easy to get infected."

So, get on with it now, and only factual information, please.

[ThailandRyan]

Telling fables again or is the term porkies.  Has the Governments and doctors they employ ever had their sanity checked......

[JoePai]

Quote :

Although there are no specific studies on how alcohol can impact your chances for COVID-19 specifically, there is plenty of research about alcohol's effect on your immune system, which is key to keeping you healthy and protecting you from illness. "We do know that alcohol can impact multiple organ systems in the body, including the immune system," Paz says. "A weakened immune system can make you more susceptible to contracting any contagious illness, including COVID-19."

[Gandtee]

What he didn't say was that being a health minister can lead to mental problems and inflicts upon you an unnecessarily long unpronounceable name. The plus side of this is that because it is unpronounceable, people will forget it and what the owner said.????

[ThailandRyan]

12 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Quote :

Although there are no specific studies on how alcohol can impact your chances for COVID-19 specifically, there is plenty of research about alcohol's effect on your immune system, which is key to keeping you healthy and protecting you from illness. "We do know that alcohol can impact multiple organ systems in the body, including the immune system," Paz says. "A weakened immune system can make you more susceptible to contracting any contagious illness, including COVID-19."

Including having that one night stand....hmmm

[G Rex]

10 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Quote :

Although there are no specific studies on how alcohol can impact your chances for COVID-19 specifically, there is plenty of research about alcohol's effect on your immune system, which is key to keeping you healthy and protecting you from illness. "We do know that alcohol can impact multiple organ systems in the body, including the immune system," Paz says. "A weakened immune system can make you more susceptible to contracting any contagious illness, including COVID-19."

I think you will find that this alcohol induced impairment of the immune system occurs after long term exposure - not after a few nights on the tear in Pattaya!  

[Jeffr2]

He's actually correct in a few points.

 

https://www.hotelcaliforniabythesea.com/2021/01/15/alcohol-and-immune-system/

Evidence suggests that excessive use of alcohol destroys important components of the immune system that prevent you from getting sick. For example, it may damage the cells lining your airway, making you more susceptible to respiratory infections, or kill the healthy bacteria in your gut, which play an important role in keeping you healthy.

Alcohol also takes away from other bodily functions, like the immune response. When you drink alcohol, the body prioritizes breaking it down over several other normal functions. Because alcohol cannot be stored the same way as macronutrients like carbohydrates, it must be sent directly to the liver, where it is metabolized immediately. As a result, your body may neglect its immune response in favor of metabolizing large amounts of alcohol.

[Cake Monster]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"Alcohol causes the muscles in the neck around the pharynx to be less effective," he said.

 

"Thus allowing Covid to more easily penetrate and get into the lungs.

 

"In addition alcohol weakens the white blood cells when Covid-19 germs enter the body," he continued.

 

""So it's easy to get infected."

I dont think I have heard so much Tosh in a single statement during my entire life

What a load of Bo%%ocks.

[James105]

Where was this doctor with his immune system advice when the gyms and parks were closed and people were prevented from exercising easily - something which is actually proven to boost immune systems.   His silence was deafening, especially when the majority of people hospitalised for this virus are obese.   

[moogradod]

Of course it seems a given that alcohol weakens the immune system - thus making you more susceptible for illnesses in general. But to use this as an argument specifically in the context of Covid is really much exaggerated and weird.

 

Following the argument you would need to restrict alcohol consumption to help prevent cancer as well. And a number of other ailments. So no more drinking in public at all, folks - and close all those bars and you name it. Or only serve tea there

[MRToMRT]

Humdinger

[Jeffr2]

1 minute ago, moogradod said:

Of course it seems a given that alcohol weakens the immune system - thus making you more susceptible for illnesses in general. But to use this as an argument specifically in the context of Covid is really much exaggerated and weird.

 

Following the argument you would need to restrict alcohol consumption to help prevent cancer as well. And a number of other ailments. So no more drinking in public at all, folks - and close all those bars and you name it. Or only serve tea there

It does kinda make sense coming from the health department. Their job is the health of the Thai population.  And we are in the midst of a health crisis.

[Jingthing]

Well that was way over the top but it is known that crowded bars are a high risk setting for airborne virus transmission. Nothing controversial about that.

 

Also its known that excessive drinking is in general unhealthy.

 

The much bigger risk obviously is the gathering of people in close quarters indoors.

 

I suppose if bars are opened they could limit number of drinks but overall that would probably be silly. People could simply bar hop.

[Kevin Taylor]

I dont even care anymore. In fact I thank these Puritans in government for forcing me to open my eyes and see where Thailand is heading, its all gone too far now I dont know where it will end but I have seen enough, I am making escape plans as we speak.

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Well that was way over the top but it is known that crowded bars are a high risk setting for airborne virus transmission. Nothing controversial about that.

 

Also its known that excessive drinking is in general unhealthy.

 

The much bigger risk obviously is the gathering of people in close quarters indoors.

 

I suppose if bars are opened they could limit number of drinks but overall that would probably be silly. People could simply bar hop.

Or we could just get vaccinated, and then carry on with our lives amidst the myriad of diseases and viruses that were around long before Covid.

 

There's a thought..