Alcohol consumption situation, its impacts and control measures in other countries

Key points for presentation General Situation Alcohol consumption situation Its impacts and control measures in Cambodia

General Situation Cambodia has no alcohol control policy Some articles of land traffic law states about drink driving (0.25 per liter of breath and 0.5 per liter of blood will be charged). Cambodia has no age limitation. Cambodia has no alcohol ban—places, occasion, time…etc. The general election in 2008 had been banned during the cooling and election days because an invention petition from NGOs. We have only two communes have issued a notification to ban alcohol in their communes so far.

Alcohol consumption situation

Table 1: Comparison of Alcohol Users by Province and Gender Province Men Women RespondentsConsumersPercentRespondentsConsumersPercent Battambang %502856% Banteay Meanchey %462861% Siem Reap %714462% Kampong cham %774356% Phnom Penh %341750% Svay Rieng %392564% Takeo %362056% Total % %

Table 2: Consumers by vocation Types of Occupation Respondents ConsumersPercent Wage workers % Students of secondary and tertiary levels % Motor taxi driver/ taxi drivers % Farmers and ordinary people % Police/soldiers police and military officers % Teachers % Total %

Alcohol impacts and control measures in Cambodia

Alcohol Impacts 1. Expenditures on Alcohol Most household expenditure for alcohol beverage is in range of 1,100-5,000 riels (USD ) per day. Focus group in Kruos commune, Svay Rieng province mentioned that the people could earn an income 1,000 riels per day. The price of Rice liquor is also 1,000 riels.

Alcohol Impacts 2.Physical and Social Consequences - Alcohol use affects health of individual (95%) - 70% said that it resulted in ulcer - 62% hepatitis - 42% headache - 98% said that alcohol use affects social security and orders (domestic violence, stealing, robbery, disturbing neighbors, beating each other, destroyed public assets, loss of dignity)

Control Measures 1. Alcohol Reduction Working Group Set up a stakeholder that composed of different institutions, NGOs, youth, media, WHO and government. The stakeholder has monthly meeting. The meeting focus on: + Strategic plan for advocacy + Information sharing Engage decision-makers to consider on alcohol policy (Ministry of Health, National Assembly Commission 8). Lobby and advocacy at national level Campaign for No alcohol drinking during cooling and election days.

Roles of NGOS Raise awareness to public, esp. communities and youth. - Prevention program + Project implemented by PDP-Center + Project initiated and implemented by communities - Collecting data - Media Campaign - Roundtable discussion with the youth and students - Give some consultations for alcohol addicted persons

Alcohol Policy Development Working Group (Ministry of Health) The working group’s composition of health sectors from government and NGOs. In the working group has a technical committee (Govt + NGOs) Technical committee has been developing a draft of National Alcohol Policy Control since March, It is not finished yet.

Challenges Less experience on alcohol policy development Alcohol Drinking is deep rooted in Cambodia that it is difficult to tackle Limited budget No data on government expenditures to give treatment for those who are alcohol harmfulness.

Results Alcohol Policy Development Working Group under leadership of Ministry of Health has started to draft a policy early this year. Good cooperation from Government, Parliament and NGOs Prime Minister issued a directive to curb alcohol use during cooling and election days. In the targeted communities alcohol consumption is reduced.

Thank you very much for your attention