Polathep Vichitkunakorn
@polathep.bsky.social
23 followers 47 following 30 posts
MD PhD (Epidemiology), Director of Centre for Alcohol Studies, Thailand | Assist. Dean of Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla Uni
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polathep.bsky.social
Just published in IJADR 🎉

ASEAN collaborative protocol on alcohol policy → consumption → life expectancy / economy (2000–2023) 🌏📈

Co-funded by @who.int Western Pacific and Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS), Thaihealth 🤝

🔗 ijadr.org/index.php/ij...

#ASEAN #AlcoholPolicy
View of Protocol to study the role of alcohol consumption and alcohol control policy for economic development and health in membership countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) ...
ijadr.org
polathep.bsky.social
Recently published in BMC Public Health: WHO-ThaiHealth shows ~1 in 2 Thais cared for a drinker in the past year 😮 Cleaning (~31%) • rides (~20%). Reducing heavy drinking = less burden on families & workplaces. @who.int @moph.neocities.org
...
doi.org/10.1186/s128...
Association between caring for drinkers and the sociodemographic factors of caregivers in Thailand: data from the WHO-ThaiHealth project - BMC Public Health
Introduction This study aimed to determine the prevalence of various kinds of care for drinkers in Thailand and investigate the relationships between the sociodemographic factors of caring and the experiences of caring for drinkers. Methods Secondary data from the World Health Organization (WHO)/ThaiHealth International Collaborative Research Project were analyzed. The survey included 1,695 participants aged between 18 and 70 years from four regions, and Bangkok. The data were collected using face-to-face interviews and collected a range of data on the impact of alcohol on others. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions are presented. Results Among 1,580 respondents, approximately 695 respondents (45.41%) had given at least one type of care for a drinker in the last 12 months. Respondents took extra responsibility for cleaning the house of drinkers after drinking (n = 476:31.22%), followed by spending time caring for a drinker (n = 317: 21.48%) and driving or picking up a drinker (n = 301:19.82%). Men had a higher proportion of giving care than women (55.65% vs. 38.23%), with significant differences in all types of care (p-value < 0.001). Approximately two-thirds of respondents aged 18‒39 years reported giving any care for people who drink. Respondents who infrequently drank five or more standard drinks per day were 4.11 (95%CI 2.49 to 6.76) times more likely than non-drinkers to report giving any care, while those who frequently drank five or more standard drinks were 4.51 (95%CI 2.44 to 8.31) times more likely than non-drinkers to report the same. Discussion and conclusions The study showed that the burden of caring for drinkers was more likely found in males and was positively associated with more drinking. Thus, a policy approach that reduces consumption would reduce the impact on the prevalence of caring for others.
doi.org
polathep.bsky.social
Thai context: episodic heavy drinking among men remains high; festivals/payday weekends are risk windows; online marketing increases youth exposure. As Thailand strengthens alcohol control, a WHO SAFER package can complement national suicide-prevention efforts.
polathep.bsky.social
JAMA Network Open meta-analysis (13 studies) shows that each +1 L increase in per-capita alcohol consumption (APC) is associated with ~3.59% higher suicide mortality, with no sex difference. Alcohol policy should be integrated into suicide-prevention strategies.
doi.org/10.1001/jama...
Reposted by Polathep Vichitkunakorn
ias.org.uk
"Contrary to some claims that marketing is about market share rather than increasing consumption, the evidence base, comprising 26 studies, suggests that there is a relationship between marketing and consumption"

- Public Health Scot's alc marketing review

publichealthscotland.scot/media/34628/...
polathep.bsky.social
Big Alcohol/Tobacco/UPF are blocking health reforms. Meanwhile in Thailand, the new Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (No.2) B.E.2568 adds industry reps to the national alcohol-control committee; provincial/BMA rules pending.
...
🔗 www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com
polathep.bsky.social
The 2–5 PM alcohol sales ban is still enforced in Thailand. This remains in effect pending sub-regs under the newly promulgated Alcohol Beverage Control Act (No. 2) in the Royal Gazette.
polathep.bsky.social
⚠️ Evidence shows: longer sales hours & easier access → more crashes, violence & health harm.
WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan (2022–2030) calls for stronger restrictions, not relaxations.
CAS urges policies that truly protect people, esp. youth & families.

#SAFER #AlcoholPolicy #PublicHealth
polathep.bsky.social
🔎 Key changes in the 2025 Act:
(1) Alcohol industry & business reps added to the National Control Committee.
(2) Allows alcohol vending machines (with ID checks).
(3) Permits drinking in govt offices for “special events.”
➡️ A shift away from the 2008 Act’s public health focus.
polathep.bsky.social
Thailand’s Alcohol Control Act (first enacted in 2008) has been amended.
📢 The 2nd Act was published in the Royal Gazette on Sept 9, 2025.
⚠️ CAS is concerned: new relaxations may increase youth access, health harms & social violence.

#AlcoholPolicy

ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/83...
polathep.bsky.social
📍9 กย วันตระหนักรู้ภาวะผิดปกติของทารกในครรภ์จากแอลกอฮอล์
(International FASD Awareness Day)

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders กลุ่มอาการผิดปกติของทารกจากการดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ของมารดาขณะตั้งครรภ์

สมองได้รับผลกระทบตั้งแต่ในท้อง ส่งผลต่อ พฤติกรรม การเรียนรู้ และสุขภาพตลอดชีวิต

การไม่ดื่มแอลกอฮอล์เลยในระหว่างตั้งครรภ์ คือการปกป้องลูกน้อย 💙

#FASD
polathep.bsky.social
📢 The Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS) is now accepting research proposals on alcohol control (2025–2027, Round 1).
Priorities: New Act, small producers, large industry, youth & women, alcohol & drugs, and more.
Details 👉 cas.or.th/content?id=965
polathep.bsky.social
Thailand’s drink drive repeat-offense law turns 3. Credit to the Road Safety Academic Center (RSAC) and the Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS) for evidence support and coordination. Goal: make “repeat offense = the end.” #drinkdrive #RoadSafety ##AlcoholPolicy @moph.neocities.org
polathep.bsky.social
🌍 Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS) enters Phase 8 (2025–2028)
Grounded in human rights, CAS drives alcohol control policies to safeguard everyone’s right to health and safety ✊

#CAS #HumanRights #AlcoholPolicy
polathep.bsky.social
ข่าวใหญ่ทั่วโลก: คนอเมริกัน “ดื่มเหล้าลดลง” ต่ำสุดในรอบเกือบ 90 ปี!
polathep.bsky.social
This 9-minute film just changed how I see the future of AI.

Its answer to the classic trolley problem is chillingly logical... and you might not like it.

Watch it and then answer this: Are we building a savior or a monster?

#AIEthics #AIDilemma #ArtificialIntelligence #MustWatch #AI
PMAC 2025: Let ethics guide technology in an age of AI
YouTube video by Prince Mahidol Award Conference
www.youtube.com
polathep.bsky.social
The Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS) held a Policy Dialogue on alcohol control (31 Jul–1 Aug 2025).
We were honored to have @DrPrakit_ASH, Thailand’s leading tobacco control advocate, share lessons to inspire stronger alcohol policies.
#CAS #AlcoholPolicy #PolicyDialogue
polathep.bsky.social
Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS) joined the PSU Faculty of Medicine Annual Conference 2025 with the session “What’s New in the New Alcohol Control Act?” on Aug 15.
We shared insights on evidence-based policy for a healthier Thailand.
#CAS #AlcoholPolicy #PSU
polathep.bsky.social
The Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS) Thailand launches Phase 8 of its research roadmap, focusing on 5 priorities: small producers, big industry tactics, youth & women, alcohol + other substances, and policy reform. #AlcoholPolicy #Thailand