Over 27,000 alcohol-related deaths spur calls for tighter controls

The Department of Health (DOH) reiterated on Tuesday, July 9, that there is "no safe level" of alcohol consumption and joined calls for stricter controls to address its negative impacts in the country.

In a forum dubbed "Alcohol Tax: Itaas," held in Quezon City to support higher alcohol taxes, the DOH joined the Sin Tax Coalition in advocating for stricter alcohol control measures. They aim to raise awareness of the risks and health impacts associated with alcohol consumption.

Citing recent data from the Global Burden of Disease Health Metrics, the DOH noted that alcohol consumption was "found to be a significant risk factor" in over 27,000 deaths nationwide.

"Drinking alcohol poses a threat to public health in the Philippines," said Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa in a statement. "We must implement evidence-based policies to mitigate these risks," he added.

Risks of alcohol consumption

The DOH, in its findings from the 2023 Health Promotion and Literacy Longitudinal Study, also noted that a "significant portion of Filipino adults perceive moderate alcohol consumption as harmless or even beneficial to health."

This perception, the DOH said, "contrasts with evidence reaffirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this year, emphasizing that no level of alcohol consumption is without risk."

The effects of alcohol consumption are "multifaceted," according to a study published in 2022 in the journal Acta Medica Philippina by Lu (now Health Secretary Herbosa) and Lu, which cited data from the Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from 2005 to 2020.

"It was determined that in Metro Manila, alcohol intoxication increases the risk of driver deaths and injuries, with 12,000 road users dying annually due to road crashes, nearly one-third of which are alcohol-related crashes," the DOH said.

Call to action

Given this, the DOH continues to advocate for evidence-based policies to reduce alcohol-related harm and promote public health.

This includes implementing public health warning labels, increasing alcohol pricing (including excise taxes), strengthening restrictions on availability, and enforcing comprehensive bans on alcohol marketing.

"The data are clear – there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. We must act now," Herbosa said.

Herbosa also noted that by educating the public, enforcing stricter regulations, and providing support for those struggling with alcohol addiction, "we can create a healthier future towards a Bagong Pilipinas kung saan Bawat Buhay Mahalaga (A New Philippines where Every Life is Valuable)."

Meanwhile, the DOH reminded the public to contact the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline 1553 if anyone is experiencing alcohol addiction and is uncertain about where to find support.