The Hindu : National : Framework convention on alcohol control mooted

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Framework convention on alcohol control mooted

Aarti Dhar

Anbumani: publicise health risks linked to alcohol abuse

Convention on lines of that on tobacco control
India has 62.5 million alcohol users

NEW DELHI: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has suggested a framework convention on alcohol control similar to the one on tobacco control.

“I voice the sentiments of one-sixth of humanity living in the world’s largest democracy and would appreciate your support and advocacy on this important public health initiative,” he said in his opening remarks at the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Trilateral Meeting held here on Tuesday.

Ills of drinking

Reminding the audience that the 58th World Health Assembly had resolved that harmful drinking was among the foremost underlying causes of diseases, domestic violence against women and children, disability, social problems and premature deaths, Dr. Ramadoss said that to unequivocally publicise the health risks connected with the harmful use of alcohol and to give active support for mitigating all associated problems, India proposed to observe October 2 every year as ‘World No Alcohol Day.’

In India alone, there are 62.5 million alcohol users and their numbers are increasing rapidly. The age of initiation to alcohol went down from 19 in 1986 to 13.5 in 2006. Observations have documented that more than 50 per cent of all drinkers in India satisfy the criterion for hazardous drinking.

‘Health sector crucial’

Describing the health sector as crucial and a non-controversial aspect of the overall development scenario, Dr. Ramadoss said it was a priority for any government. Therefore, cooperation in the field of health and medicine would further strengthen the friendly relations and deepen the historic ties that existed among the three IBSA countries.

“Though we are located in different parts of the world, we are united in our commitment to sustainable and equitable development and human dignity. Promoting universal access to quality health care and affordable medicines is an important goal for our societies,” he said.

Progress and disease

“The increased pace of socio-economic development of our countries, now acclaimed globally, has brought along with it the rapidly increasing burden of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. Together with tobacco and alcohol, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets [universally called junk food] are the common risk factors associated with these diseases,” he explained. “Due to the fact that such diseases are expensive to treat and manage, controlling the four major risk factors and preventing such diseases should be the preferred strategy in our countries.”

Yoga, Ayurveda role

“We intend to bring about lifestyle changes through the traditional medicine systems of Ayurveda and yoga and to catch them young, it is our aim to integrate yoga into the National School Health Programme. All our countries have a young population and though it is fantastic to be in a youthful country with so many youngsters — India has approximately 600 million people under the age of 30 — we need to protect this valuable resource from the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol, two industries whose lobbies are very strong.”

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