Safe Drinking
Usham Tomba *
Manipur Excise Department disposing off seized Country Made Liquor in Jan 2012
Naba Volcano rocked away the crowd with "...Chamellei gi mamaangda pumnamak katcha....." They loved it. Alcoholism remains an issue in Manipur. Though a dry State, except at Sekmai, Phayeng and Andro, the availability and consumption level tells a different story. Alcohol use and alcohol abuse are two different entities. Many cultures in Manipur have history of alcohol use from times immemorial. Each village was said to have a “Yulaakpa” responsible for beverages. Alcohol is medically used as an antiseptic, as an appetite stimulant and as a counterirritant and in methanol poisoning among others. Moderate alcohol use is reported to reduce heart diseases.
AMADA and CADA are doing their good job in Manipur but as the issue of alcoholism persists it has become equally important to understand ways of safe drinking.
The first is to choose the drinking company well. A lot can depend on the company you drink with. Pre-plan your way back home before you gulp down the first drink. Drunk dr
iving kills.
Adulteration is a big issue and adulterated drinks can seriously and irreparably harm your body and even cause death. So, buy from a trusted shop.
Up to 100 ml of hard drink per day is usually safe. More than 150 ml per day is regarded unsafe.
Pregnant ladies, people with allergy to alcohol, epileptics, peptic ulcer patients and people taking medicines which can adversely interact with alcohol are not advised to drink.
People with unstable personality are advised not to drink as they are more likely to abuse and become chronic alcoholics.
Never drink empty stomach. Eat plenty of nutritious foods. Mild to moderate use of alcohol is reported not to cause liver damage as long as the nutrition is good.
Do not drink in front of children. They look up to you.
Immediately consult a doctor if stopping your drink for a day causes you anxiety, tremor, sweating, confusion or collapse.
Chronic alcoholism can cause liver and gastric diseases, mental illness, high BP, heart diseases, muscular diseases and cancers of the oesophagus and throat among other ailments. One alcoholic in the family can severely affect the whole family and the society as a whole. The best policy still remains abstinence from alcohol. But if you should drink, drink responsibly. Let your drink not drink you.
* Usham Tomba wrote this for the The Sangai Express .
This article was posted on February 10, 2012.
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