BANGKOK, THAILAND – More than 90% of people in Thailand did not know alcohol can cause cancer, a new survey showed, prompting experts to warn of a mounting public health crisis.
Survey reveals critical knowledge gap
A survey by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) of almost 4,000 people in twelve provinces showed severe gaps in awareness about alcohol and health risks.
“More than 90% of respondents do not know that alcohol can cause cancer,”
said Dr. Pairoj Saonuam, deputy CEO of ThaiHealth. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, on the same level as asbestos and tobacco smoke.
Alcohol drives non-communicable disease burden
Alcohol consumption was identified as a major driver of non-communicable diseases in Thailand, including obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. In 2021, economic losses linked to alcohol were put at more than 165 billion baht (about 4.1 billion euros). Four in five Thais reported having suffered harm from other people’s drinking, such as accidents or violence.
Teen drinking on the rise
Experts described trends among young people as particularly worrying, with drinking rates among male and female teenagers becoming increasingly similar.
“A trend that is similar to Europe and the United States,”
said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Roengrudee Patanavanich of Mahidol University. The average age for a first drink in Thailand was 19.9 years, and 17.1 million Thais aged 15 and over had consumed alcohol in the past month.
Calls for tougher alcohol control laws
Thailand recorded the third-highest alcohol consumption rate in the ASEAN region, prompting fresh warnings from health specialists.
“Every ten seconds alcohol kills a person through injuries or diseases,”
said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Polathep Vichitkunakorn, who called for stricter national control policies. Proposed measures included higher taxes, tighter advertising restrictions and better access to treatment and cessation programmes.
Cancer risk and persistent myths
Alcohol has been linked to at least eight types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, oesophagus, breast, liver and colon. Despite this, the belief that moderate drinking is healthy remained widespread, even as experts stressed that any amount of alcohol increases risk. They highlighted an urgent need for clearer risk communication and the creation of safer social environments.
Pressure on authorities to protect the next generation
Health authorities were under pressure as the crisis of non-communicable diseases showed no sign of easing. Experts called for stronger education efforts in schools and the media to protect younger generations from the severe consequences of widespread drinking. For millions of Thais, regular alcohol consumption was part of everyday life, but the cost of this normality was rising sharply – and was often deadly.