KOTA KINABALU: Binge-drinking is becoming a dangerous trend among Sabahans, said an official of Mercy Malaysia, the organisation providing medical and humanitarian relief.
Mercy Malaysia (Sabah) chief Dr Helen Lasimbang, quoting a study by University Malaysia Sabah (UMS), said Sabahans normally stayed away from alcohol during weekdays but during weekends or festive seasons, they ended up consuming large amounts that posed serious health risks.
She said this at a seminar on alcohol and health here yesterday, at a time when Sabahans were celebrating their annual Pesta Kaamatan harvest fest.
She said the research found many people in the state drank “without control” during weekends and festive seasons.
“This poses serious health risks to them, including heart attacks, strokes and liver damage and can even lead to accidents,” she said.
Dr Lasimbang said alcohol abuse was among the main causes for non-communicable diseases in the world.
She said locally-brewed alcohol, like montuko and tapai, posed more danger to health than factory-produced liquor since the alcohol content in the locally-brewed liquor could not be established.
UMS lecturer of psychiatry Dr Wendy Shoesmith said people cultivated the habit through three factors: social entertainment, culture and family.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey between August 2011 and July 2012, Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest alcohol consumption (20.3%), followed by Sarawak (19.7%) and Sabah (18.4%)
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