Lent Wagon Pulls In, Drinkers Urged To Get On

Lent wagon pulls in, drinkers urged to get on

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry yesterday kicked off its alcohol abstinence campaign, which will run during Buddhist Lent.

"Abstinence is in line with religious teachings not to mention good for your health," Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said at a gathering at Sanam Luang, where more than 3,000 people showed up to support the campaign.

Buddhist Lent, which started yesterday, will continue until October 28.

Sudarat said excessive consumption of alcohol accounted for 4 per cent of deaths and disabilities worldwide, as heavy drinkers are more likely to be involved in brawls, murders and traffic accidents or to succumb to health problems like throat cancer or liver diseases.

She also expressed concern that the number of alcohol consumers in Thailand grew by nearly 300,000 every year, with a 2003 survey by the National Statistical Office showing that up to 18.6 million people drank alcoholic beverages.

She added that each Thai person who consumes alcohol on average drinks 41.6 litres of alcoholic beverages a year, making Thailand fifth on the list of the world's heavy drinkers.

Dr Jaral Trinwutthipong, the ministry's acting permanent secretary, said that alcohol consumption could adversely affect a person's intelligence quotient (IQ). "A drinker's IQ level can decline, especially for those who start drinking in their 20s," he said.

Jaral said the World Health Organization found that one-third of mental patients were suffering because of liquor consumption. A study on domestic violence also showed that among alcoholics, 6.2 per cent of wives and 5.7 per cent of husbands had physically assaulted their spouses.

-- The Nation 2004-08-02