Thai Public Health Ministry To Host 1St Global Alcohol Policy Conference

[webfact]

Public Health Ministry to host 1st Global Alcohol Policy Conference

BANGKOK, 7 February 2012 (NNT) – The Public Health Ministry is set to host the first-ever Global Alcohol Policy Conference, which is aimed at reducing alcohol consumption, after it has been found that the annual cost of alcohol-related damage in each country stands at THB100 billion.

Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri said Thailand has been given the honor to host the first Global Alcohol Policy Conference during 13-15 February at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani. More than 800 experts and academics worldwide are expected to attend the conference, of which purpose is to encourage all nations to comply with the strategy to cut down alcohol-related problems.

Alcohol is regarded by the World Health Organization as one of the top four destructors of health. Based on statistics from all 192 member countries, 4.8 alcohol fatalities occur each minute on average, which equals 2.5 million deaths per year. The annual cost of damage sustained from alcohol consumption stands at no less than THB100 billion in each country.

In Thailand, there are more than 17 million alcohol consumers, putting the country at the number three spot among other Asian countries after Japan and South Korea. However, Thailand is one of the countries in the world with the most vigorous alcohol policies. Since 2008, there has been no increase in the number of new drinkers in the Kingdom, which is in contrast to a surge of over 80% in many other countries. Thus, Thailand was chosen to host the conference.

The drug rehabilitation center of Phramongkutklao Hospital’s Psychiatry and Neurology Division indicated an annual figure of 1,000-1,200 people admitted for treatment, 70% of whom are alcoholics. The Public Health Ministry is set to coordinate with the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to filter alcoholic risk groups and monitor post-rehabilitation follow-ups in order to reduce the number of alcohol addicts to the lowest possible.

-- NNT 2012-02-07

[REM]

Weird, Thailand doesn't seem like the place for a global medical conference. Unless it's about STD's, this is just weird. I wonder if representatives from Chang and Singha will be there???

[Reasonableman]

Thailand, the new Alcoholic Hub

[DP25]

In Thailand, there are more than 17 million alcohol consumers, putting the country at the number three spot among other Asian countries after Japan and South Korea.

I'm pretty sure China and India have more than 17 million alcohol consumers. Probably Philippines and Indonesia as well

[Reasonableman]

But on a less flippant note:

http://en.thaihealth...h/plans/alcohol

Alcohol consumption is a leading cause of injury and disease in Thailand. Alcohol-related diseases are the third most important risk factor behind unsafe sex and tobacco consumption. Abuse of alcohol reduces productivity, consumes health service resources, and increases crime and violence. Economic loss due to traffic accidents alone are equivalnet to 2-3% of the national GDP, or about 100 billion baht per annum. The alcohol consumption rate among Thai population has been rapidly increasing. Annual per capita consumption in 1989 was 20.2 liters. By 2003 per capita consumption had risen to 58.0 liters. Thais have the fifth highest rate of alcohol consumption in the world. Although consumption of alcohol is particularly common among males, between 1996 and 2003 consumption among girls aged from 15-19 years rose almost six times. Work by ThaiHealth helped persuade the cabinet to pass a resolution on 29 July 2003 to ban advertisements of all beverages with more than 0.5% alcohol on radio and TV broadcast between 5am and 10pm. The resolution included additional measures to control alcohol consumption and reduce traffic accidents, including the establishment of a National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control, chaired by the Minister of Public Health.

Edited February 7, 2012 by Reasonableman

[jaltsc]

The people gathering these statistics must be drunk!!!

Perhaps "there has been no increase in the number of new drinkers" because the number of alcohol drinkers dying in auto crashes equals the number of new drinkers. Thus making it appear that progress has been made in curbing alcohol consumption.

Surveys are meaningless if the respondents are unaware they are alcoholics. I knew a woman who denied she was an alcoholic since she only drank 3 nights a week and had a very respectable job. However, she was "binge drinking" and consumed a full bottle of wine and six cans of beer at a sitting. Her idea of an alcoholic was someone who in jobless, disheveled, and drunk all the time. She was totally unaware that binge drinking is the most dangerous form of alcohol consumption.

Not only is she in denial, but the Public Health Ministry is in denial if it thinks that alcohol consumption is waning.

Edited February 7, 2012 by jaltsc

[Shurup]

But on a less flippant note:

http://en.thaihealth...h/plans/alcohol

Alcohol consumption is a leading cause of injury and disease in Thailand. Alcohol-related diseases are the third most important risk factor behind unsafe sex and tobacco consumption. Abuse of alcohol reduces productivity, consumes health service resources, and increases crime and violence. Economic loss due to traffic accidents alone are equivalnet to 2-3% of the national GDP, or about 100 billion baht per annum. The alcohol consumption rate among Thai population has been rapidly increasing. Annual per capita consumption in 1989 was 20.2 liters. By 2003 per capita consumption had risen to 58.0 liters. Thais have the fifth highest rate of alcohol consumption in the world. Although consumption of alcohol is particularly common among males, between 1996 and 2003 consumption among girls aged from 15-19 years rose almost six times. Work by ThaiHealth helped persuade the cabinet to pass a resolution on 29 July 2003 to ban advertisements of all beverages with more than 0.5% alcohol on radio and TV broadcast between 5am and 10pm. The resolution included additional measures to control alcohol consumption and reduce traffic accidents, including the establishment of a National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control, chaired by the Minister of Public Health.

How do they know how many people in Thailand are consuming alcohol? Whenever I go to bars or restaurants, not once have I seen anyone doing a head count or anything like that. Numbers pulled out their a@@ as usual...

Edited February 7, 2012 by Shurup

[swifty5x5]

Yep

[rfukata]

In Thailand, there are more than 17 million alcohol consumers, putting the country at the number three spot among other Asian countries after Japan and South Korea.

I'm pretty sure China and India have more than 17 million alcohol consumers. Probably Philippines and Indonesia as well

"putting the country at the number three spot among other Asian countries after Japan and South Korea"

Thai could be number 3 in consumption, but certainly no.1 in the alcohol related traffic death over Japan and So.Korea.

[Unkomoncents]

It seems counter-productive to sober up this country as that might clear the vision of almost 60 million spaced-out folks, leading to significant increases in public resentment beyond what already exists. It could spell the end for a whole political order. If the status quo is to remain, those in power would do well to relax alcohol laws in the Kingdom...

Edited February 7, 2012 by Unkomoncents

[LuckyLew]

The should hold this conference during Sonkran - the 7 deadly days of Songkran

Then all the delagates can play "guess the daily death toll"