In the midst of the national frenzy about the present administration‘s so-called war on drugs and the trail of blood and dead bodies it is producing, a blind eye is being turned to a reality that has long been staring us in the face: the personal and national damage caused by alcohol consumption.
In a study commissioned by the British government in 2009 and reiterated by the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs, 20 drugs including heroin, crack, cocaine, methylamphetamine, cannabis, and others were rated according to a harm ranking system involving 16 criteria that included the users‘ physical and mental health, the social harms including crime and family adversities, and costs to communities and to the economy. The medical journal Lancet published the results of the studies: “ In terms of the cost to society, alcohol causes the biggest harm.“ To be clear, the studies found heroin, crack and crystal meth worst for individual users, alcohol, heroin, crack and cocaine worst for society, but alcohol, because of the sheer numbers of users, worst overall.
So what are the harms practically ignored in this country? Medical impacts include liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, cancers of the mouth, nose, larynx, esophagus, colon and breast, weakening of the immune system. In total, some 200 diseases are linked to alcohol consumption, of which 30 are caused only by alcohol (WHO 2014.) Add to this, problems of addiction, mental incapacitation, waste of resources, road accidents, productivity loss, family violence, and other acts of violence that can include rape and murder.
But because it is such a mainstream commodity offering many business opportunities including aggressive advertising (specially to young people to ensure continuous generations of drinkers), and as drinking is such a favorite social practice, it falls below the radar of social programs, meaningful legislation or law enforcement.
This issue has been taken up in this space before. But against the backdrop of the ugly “war on drugs,“ a perspective is needed on a massive problem being ignored. For another reason, as it is “women‘s month,“ the story of the women of Cochabamba, Bolivia (where 7 out ot 10 women experience violence) may be worth telling: In 1999, five women, domestic violence victims, established a community in the outskirts of the city that grew to 420 families. They set the rules: the president and vice-president of the barrio would be women, there would be no sale of alcohol, violent husbands or partners would be removed from the community, workshops on relationship problems and on gender-based violence would be part of community education. One man living in barrio Maria Auxiliadora admitted that at first the men resented the women‘s leadership but came to accept it and appreciate an orderly community. Both women and men said that the absence of alcohol was very helpful to family relationships; only a few men had had to be turned out of the community.
A ban on alcohol is also an issue in some states in India, with Bihar having passed legislation because of pressure from women. What a contrast to this country where alcohol consumption not only is absolutely not an issue, but incitement to drink is everywhere. Derek Ramsay famously tells men “Ang duda sa sarili gawing tiwala sa sarili“ – with Tanduay rum. Dumaguete City is plastered with Tibay Loob, Tibay Tanduay, as is the entire country. Sinister advertisers know how to create dependency in those needing to feel better about themselves. Compare local advertising ethics, or the lack of it, with the British Advertising Standards Authority that last year reviewed a TV rum commercial linking drinking to popularity and confidence, and then issued a ban because the ad “implied that drinking alcohol could enhance personal qualities and was therefore irresponsible.“ Our blunted sensibilities haven‘t produced even a peep of objection to these types of ubiquitous ads: “Hoy, pare ko, bumagay ka… Inuman na!“
This isn‘t a call for a ban but for attention to the fact that the present national macho leadership chooses its “wars,“ retains its drinking habits and ignores another social cancer causing significant harm to women and to society.
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Author’s email: h.cecilia7@gmail.com
