Ministry of Health recommends safe use of alcohol and beer during Tet

According to the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health, Vietnam ranks third in Asia in alcohol and beer consumption. During Tet holidays, the amount of alcohol and beer consumed increases significantly, along with the number of people hospitalized due to drunkenness, beer, and even alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning manifests itself in many different degrees, from mild (uncontrollable emotions, anger, irritability, unsteadiness, etc.) to severe (vomiting a lot, sweating, coma, rapid pulse, shallow breathing, low blood pressure, and death if not treated promptly).

Alcohol poisoning occurs when drinking more than the body's response, even with products that have been certified as safe for food. The risk increases with unpredictable health consequences if using fake alcohol, alcohol of unknown origin, alcohol containing a lot of methanol that can cause blindness and death, especially when using alcohol soaked with leaves, roots, plants, animals containing natural toxins.

Drinking alcohol for a long time will lead to bad consequences for health. Illustration

However, the liver can only process a certain amount of alcohol per hour. During Tet holidays, the amount of alcohol and beer absorbed is greater than usual, causing the liver to not be able to produce enough enzymes to metabolize alcohol. At this time, the toxins created from alcohol and beer will accumulate in the body, directly destroying liver cells and poisoning many internal organs, causing fatigue, headaches, nausea... and even hospitalization due to high liver enzymes, acute hepatitis, liver failure...

Long-term drinking of alcohol and beer will lead to alcoholism, weight loss, anorexia, digestive disorders due to liver and intestinal damage, especially liver degeneration, cirrhosis leading to liver cancer. For the cardiovascular system, drinking alcohol and beer causes the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in people with high blood pressure. In addition, drinking a lot of alcohol and beer also causes memory loss, tremors, and mental disorders.

Pregnant women who drink alcohol also affect their own health. Alcohol will make the mother drunk, tired, have headaches, cause physical and mental disorders and can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, affect the physical, mental and intellectual development of the child, and cause poisoning to the fetus.

To ensure health during the traditional New Year of Canh Ty 2020 and the Spring festivals, the Department of Preventive Medicine - Ministry of Health recommends people:

- Comply with the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Control of Harmful Effects of Alcohol and Beer.

- Limit your alcohol consumption because there is no safe level. If you do drink: do not drink more than two units of alcohol per day for men, one unit of alcohol per day for women and do not drink more than 5 days per week (one unit of alcohol is equivalent to 3/4 of a 330 ml bottle/can of beer (5%); one 330 ml glass of draft beer; one 100 ml glass of wine (13.5%); or one 30 ml shot of spirits (40%))

- In particular, do not use alcohol in the following cases: driving a motor vehicle, operating machinery, pregnant or breastfeeding women, taking medication that reacts with alcohol, or having medical conditions that alcohol makes worse.

- Do not participate in outdoor activities or in dangerous, unsafe places because of the risk of falling, collision, injury, etc. Absolutely do not drive after drinking alcohol.

- Only drink wine and beer of clear origin and guaranteed quality.