Three Millions Die Yearly Due To Harmful Use Of Alcohol

About three million people, representing 5.3 per cent deaths and over 200 diseases and injuries occurred each year due to harmful use of alcohol as casual factor.
Also, 13 percent death among 20-39 year old was attributed to alcohol harmful use globally.
Mr Fred Nwogu of New Nigeria Foundation who revealed this on Wednesday during a roundtable discussion with Media on Promoting Responsible Beverage Service in Port Harcourt, said the data was obtained from the United Nation and World Health Organisation.
Nwogu explained that Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) is an intervention program to support alcohol service staff working in establishment like hotels, bars, restaurants, liquor stores in preventing sales to minors and pregnant women, reducing underage drinking and drunk driving.
According to him, “the harmful use of alcohol was coined by the World Health Organisation to describe any use of alcohol that causes harm to the drinker or those surrounding the drinker”.
He explained further that harmful use of alcohol is monitored by levels of alcohol consumption even as he expressed the need to provide RBS in Nigerian hospitality onstitution as a way of engaging and sensitizing the public on the danger of excess consumption of alcohol.
Nwogu commended the International Breweries PLC for its commitment towards reducing the harmful use of alcohol globally as part of its contributions to the global campaign to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.
“For many years,International Breweries PLC is committed to producing, marketing and getting its products responsibly and willing to continue to do so”, he said.
In her presentation, former Woman Editor of Daily Times and member of the Board of Directors of New Nigeria Foundation, Mrs Olubunmi Olatunde, stressed the need to promote RBS in the hospitality industry, stating that RBS is highly valued in the industry worldwide.
Olatunde advocated training and certificates in RBS as a prerequisite for working in any bar, hotels or restaurants where alcohol is sold, saying this is done in other countries.
According to her, it is important for employers, waiters to acquire knowledge and skills for serving alcohol responsibly and fulfilling the legal requirements of alcohol service.

By: Ike Wigodo