PUBLISHED: 15 Feb 2025 at 04: 00
The ministry’s efforts to promote the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs ) as a national agenda item do not go against the government’s policy to lift the sale ban on alcoholic beverages that are currently in effect daily between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., as well as on Buddhist holy days, according to the ministry’s public health statement.
Speaking at a campaign against NCDs, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin said about 400, 000 people, or 74 % of all deaths in Thailand, result from NCDs, which include cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, per year.
Disease even put a great burden on the government’s economic and social development. According to 2019 data, the nation experienced over 1.6 trillion ringgit in financial losses as a result of disease, compared to 1.39 billion baht spent on their treatment.
According to Mr. Somsak, the government will make NCD prevention measures a national objective item that will require collaboration between various organizations to reduce the growing number of patients.
The department plans to encourage people to cut down on sodium intake, increase their daily calorie intake, increase protein intake, and consume healthy fats, according to the plan.
Additionally, the government intends to create NCD centers at all hospitals and a protection center at every district as well as at the neighborhood level.
When asked whether the administration’s plan to encourage alcohol consumption may have a negative impact on the agency’s goal to reduce the number of people living with non-communicable diseases, Mr. Somsak said they were two distinct issues.
The state has a tourism strategy, and expanding alcohol income does not mean Thai people will purchase or consume more alcoholic beverage, he said.
” We would like to see foreign tourists if the ban on alcoholic beverages sales get lifted between 2 pm and 5 pm on Buddhist divine time.”
According to KrungSri Research, 2.7 billion gallons of domestic alcoholic beverages were sold in 2022.
On average, it is estimated that Thai citizens consume seven liters each month.