Homebrew, alcohol a serious threat: Adviser

National, Normal
Source:

By ELIZABETH MIAE

THE consumption of homebrew and alcohol is threatening PNG’s young population, principal adviser for Social Change and Mental Health Services, Dr Uma Ambi, said.
Ambi is also worried that certain foreign-owned companies are producing cheap alcohol that may contain substances that are very harmful.
At the second alcohol policy stakeholders’ consultative meeting on Monday, she read out some test results that were conducted on a certain alcohol that had become popular among youngsters.
The results showed that the drink contained 44% ethanol (alcohol) and 54% methanol but the drink’s label stated that it contained only 24% alcohol.
The frightening thing about the drink is that the chemical substance methanol, a colourless flammable organic liquid, is also used in cleaning detergents.
Ambi said she received letters from community leaders at Hula village in Central’s Rigo district saying how that particular drink and other homebrew had affected their youth.
The leaders said young girls practically went “wild and ran naked in the middle of the village, screaming and fighting each other even using knives”.
Ambi said three deaths had been reported to her all related to alcohol, adding that such a situation called for a national security alert.
She also said with the LNG  project coming up, a lot of foreigners would be coming into the country and could be producing such alcohol containing harmful substances that could kill the young generation.
Ambi, along with other stakeholders, are currently working on the national policy on reduced alcohol-related harm which will be addressing this issue.
Once the policy is adopted, it will help to revive the existing laws that are not being enforced by the authorities responsible.
The meeting was told that alcohol consumption by children as young as six years old was happening right now in many communities.
It was discussed that in order to stop children and teenagers getting into the habit of drinking, parents must be counselled and for schools to provide supportive and conducive environment for students to get help.
Others issues discussed were penalising of public motor vehicle (PMV) drivers who allowed passengers, including students, to consume alcohol onboard the buses and traders selling alcohol to children under the age of 18.