‘Drinking must be within limits’ advice
Published on: Monday, November 18, 2019
By: Oswald Supi
PENAMPANG: It is important to impose limits when drinking as consuming excessive amounts can damage physical health, ruin mental health including addiction besides socio-economic effects such as causing accidents, domestic violence and simply waste of money.
“Our message is not to stop drinking but prevent alcohol misuse such as excessive consumption,” said Prof. Dr Helen Lasimbang after organising a 5km run along the hills of Kg Kipouvo here, as President of Apam (Association for Prevention of Alcohol Misuse).
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The programme was a pilot project by the association and the first time a run was held at the serene and misty village at 6am.
Prof Helen is an obstetrician gynecologist and CEO of Universiti Malaysia Sabah Hospital.
Regarding the acceptable amount of alcohol that can be consumed, she cited World Health Organisation standards for example beer with 5% alcohol where only one tin or 330 ml and twice per week would be safe.
Lately there is a trend among youths to yell “haaus” as invitation for a beer. “Haus means thirsty so they should only drink to quench the thirst and that is all,” she said in jest. Consuming fine cans of beer is already binge drinking, she warned.
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Regarding the practice in some villages to share “siopon” or a small jar of tapai sucked using a bamboo straw, she warned that unclean water used in the jar could cause gastroenteritis infections and transmit infectious diseases such as TB, as proven in areas where the Siopon was a tradition.
Similar statement was made by Sabah Tuberculosis Association recently suggesting the use of “Tumpung” or mini plastic jars for individual use instead.
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However, Prof. Helen said tumpung should not be another excuse for drinking too much.
She said alcohol addiction is considered a disease but, sadly, there are no rehab facilities in Malaysia and urged people to opt for prevention.
Meanwhile her sister Anne who is the village chief of Kipouvo said Penampang District never practised the Siopon culture, preferring to serve “lihing or tapai” in individual bamboo cups also called “suki”.
The two sisters who are both assemblywomen – Janie and Jenifer – jointly flagged off the race at 6 am while brother Senator Adrian joined and completed the 5km hilly run.
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