Number of boozers increases, poll says

BANGKOK: -- The number of regular liquor drinkers has increased to 11.9 million from 8.4 million nationwide in the past two years, according to research sponsored by ThaiHealth released yesterday.

The research found that half of Thailand’s population, around 33 million people, had imbibed in liquor and alcoholic beverages, said Arpha Siriwong, of Chulalongkorn University’s Social Research Institute, which conducted the research.

Arpha defined regular drinkers as people who drink up to 20 days per month. The research was conducted jointly with four other universities on hundreds of people living in 40 provinces between 2001 and 2003.

The types of drinks specified in the research were alcoholic fruit juices, wines and home-made wines, beer, distilled red liquor, distilled clear liquor, Chinese-style home-made spirits, medication-based home-made liquors, and traditional moonshine.

Companion research also released yesterday found that the average age of first-time drinkers had decreased to 11 or 12 years. The youngest first-time drinker was four years old, said Janyawat Thabjan, of Community Nurses’ Association of Thailand.

Citing her interview with the unidentified child, Janyawat said the child learned to drink from his parents who were regular drinkers. The child, who had been drinking before the interview, said he felt energetic and easily amused whenever he drank.

Another research paper found that the laws outlawing the sale of alcohol to people under 18 years of age did not work well.

--The Nation 2005-09-12

And I bet the increase comes 99% from the female side.

Based on the fact that all Thai men drink anyway

The youngest first-time drinker was four years old,

Citing her interview with the unidentified child, Janyawat said the child learned to drink from his parents who were regular drinkers. The child, who had been drinking before the interview, said he felt energetic and easily amused whenever he drank.

The term "child abuse" comes rather easily to mind....

As someone once said "....'Twas a woman that drove me to drink and I never did write and thank her."