Study highlights perils of boozing

[Admin]

Study highlights perils of boozing
The Nation 2011-06-29

Heavy drinking has contributed to more than 100,000 divorces and separations, while also causing 13,000 deaths and leaving more than a million injured, a news conference publicising the coming National AlcoholFree Day was told yesterday.

Statistics of the number of breakups of couples gathered three years ago showed a threefold increase over the figure 24 years ago, mainly as a result of domestic violence stemming from heavy drinking by the men, Public Health Ministry deputy permanent secretary Siriwat Thiptharadol.

National AlcoholFree Day is on the annual Buddhist Lent Day, which falls on July 16 this year. It is followed by a threemonth alcoholbreak period, which also corresponds with the threemonth Buddhist Lent.

According to a study, families with regular to heavy drinkers are four times as prone to domestic violence and other relationship problems than normal families. Drunk driving, which is responsible for 48 per cent of road accidents, kills 13,000 people and injures a million on average each year.

In addition to election days and the Buddhist Lent Day, sale of liquor is prohibited on three other Buddhist holidays in Thailand under a campaign by authorities to discourage drinking and drunk driving.

Drinking is the main reason for 35 per cent of sex crimes and 45 per cent of quarrels and assaults, and costs Bt100 billion in treatment for both crimerelated emergencies and chronic diseases such as alcoholism, intestinal cancer and liver failure associated with drinking.

The ministry repeated a warning on the ban on sale of alcohol also on July 15 - Asalha Puja Day - which is followed by a fourday holiday break this year, including a substitution day on the following Monday.

Statistics show that there are 14.9 million drinkers aged 15 years or older from a total of 51.2 million surveyed, with the number of men six times that of women.

A total of 238 stores and pubs were prosecuted for selling or serving liquor during prohibited hours and days last year, while another 1,941, 538 of which were based in Bangkok, were warned or received lighter penalties.

[nookiebear]

Heavy Drinking in Thailand has got worse over the last 20 odd years

[Admin]

Heavy Drinking in Thailand has got worse over the last 20 odd years

Really nookie? Tell us about it.

[dundeemk6]

It's kind of a "natural" section wouldn't one say ?!?

[isanbirder]

Only 30%?  Not in my village, where it's more like 70-80%.

[Vombatus]

Heavy Drinking in Thailand has got worse over the last 20 odd years

Probably coinciding with your arrival. 

I imagine you would get on Mastermind with this as your specialist subject !