The workshop held under the title “Alcohol Control and Related Policy”, was presided over by the Vice-President of the National Assembly, and also Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Commission, Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane.
“The workshop plays an important role in assessing the real alcohol abuse in our region and sharing lessons of determining policies and laws to eliminate negative effects of alcohol use,” Dr Saysomphone said in his opening statement.
The National Assembly of Laos considers alcohol abuse as a new issue, said the Vice-Chairman of Cultural-Social Affairs Commission, National Assembly, Dr Somphou Douangsavanh. “So we would like to take this opportunity to share and learn how to make a policy, implement and manage alcohol abuse from the Social Affairs Commissions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Kingdom of Cambodia and Kingdom of Thailand.”
Dr Somphou went on that alcohol was closely linked to the tradition in the Asia-Pacific region. In ancient times, in Laos rice production engaged farmers only six months (June to November) in a year and the rest was occupied by various festivals during which alcohol was consumed and caused harmful effects to society.
Advertisement on alcohol through materials, radios, TVs, and Internet seems to increase inside and outside the country. The number of alcohol and beer shops, pubs, guesthouses and hotels are also rising due to the development of tourism industry, leading to increasing alcohol consumption.
According to the result of interviews, 257 out of 600 students interviewed admitted drinking beer and 52% of the respondents are between ll and 18 years old.
Alcohol is mainly consumed in the country while a minor portion is exported, for instance 60% of beer is distributed in Vientiane Capital and 40% goes to the provinces and abroad.
Nowadays, alcohol factories are expanding in the capital and provinces while cottage alcohol production is also ubiquitous mainly in rural areas.
According to the Food and Drugs Department, Ministry of Public Health, so far this year 863 tonnes of various kinds of alcohol has been imported. Last year one Lao citizen drank 100 litres.
There's nothing to be shocked about...Beer lao has firmly positioned in the mind of all lao people and you can see its advertisements everywhere at every event and at all levels. In large ,lao consumers, notably the young generation, is highly likely to be defendless when facing with this kind of big budgeted advertisement from a big business.
smoking is one of the most stupid thing someone can do in his life, because it's bad for health since the first cigaret (of course, the more you smoke, the more it's dangerous), and addiction comes very fast: if you beggin to smoke, there is a very strong chance that you being addicted soon. So you'll spend your life loosing money to destroy your body and pollute other with your stinking and dangerous smoke
Alcohol is different, because it's certainly possible to regulary drink alcohol without being addicted, and drink little bit alcohol is not really bad for health Alcohol can be dangerous if you drinking too much, because in this case, yes, it's dangerous for health, you can get addicted, and it's dangerous for others too (if you drive a car after drink too much, you can cause accidents, drunk men often fight their wife or children...) . But if you are carefull and drink just little bit and don't take you car immediatly after, alcohol is not a problem.... it's just a question of personal behaviour and self-control
I would never approve someone smoking, but i don't see anything wrong with drinking little bit alcohol as long as the person don't drink to much, don't get addicted, and is carrefull.
"According to the result of interviews, 257 out of 600 students interviewed admitted drinking beer and 52% of the respondents are between ll and 18 years old."
I disagree on this statistic interview whatever you call it. Every Lao student drinks beer! period. fact. come and see laos. even a 8 year old drinks beer at a wedding.
No surprise me at all when i was in Laos i saw the students in BEER store after school as young as 13,14,15
Only BEER LAO in their mind always this company is control Lao people and Lao government indirectly as you can see BEER LAO advertising avery where every conners !! too bad poor Laotian!
