ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION

Alcohol consumption is another issue that is inevitable in our society. Alcohol is widely consumed in the Philippines. Statistics shows that Filipinos are the second highest consumers of alcohol in South East Asia next to Indonesians and the number one wine drinkers as well. It is estimated that 5 million Filipinos drink on a fairly regular basis while 39.9% of the Filipino population drink on an irregular basis. Considering the said statistics, the big question comes to mind: What are the reasons behind alcohol consumption in our society? Alcohol consumption can be considered as a part of the Filipinos culture and way of life. One of the common reasons for alcohol consumption is our societal attitude. Filipinos have a strong drinking culture brought to us by the Spanish colonizers. Alcohol is present in many social situations like weddings, holidays and celebrations. It is believed that it adds pleasure and excitement to occasions. Without it, occasions are considered incomplete and boring. Because of this, it now seems to be a normal thing to do for everyone. Another reason behind alcohol consumption is relaxation and escape from problems. A lot of people may be familiar to a song, entitled Beer, by the Itchyworms. Just a quick trivia, Beer is the most popular drink in the Philippines. In Filipino language, the song goes like, Ibuhos na ang beer sa aking lalamunan upang malunod na ang puso kong nahihirapan This song is one of the most popular songs often sang in karaoke. This song is said to perfectly describe the feelings of people who are down and therefore consider alcohol consumption a way to escape from their problems. And lastly, the media is another reason for alcohol consumption. Alcohol advertisements are very prominent in our society. A media-induced perception of acceptance around drinking allows people to drink more. Many of us may be familiar to the commercials of famous celebrities like Anne Curtis endorsing Tanduay Ice and Angelica Panganiban endorsing The Bar. We may also be familiar to the jingle of Emperador light which goes like, gawin mong emperador light, gawin mong light. When people see certain role models or their favorite celebrities drinking alcohol, they easily assume that it is a socially desirable thing to do. People believe that drinking alcohol helps them fit in and conform to social customs and norms. They believe that it will help them gain confidence for them to take part in social situations. A lot of people gain the perception that people who drink alcohol are cool and fun-to-be-with. On the other hand, people who do not consume alcohol are labeled boring, KJ (kill joy) and out-of-this-world. However, sometimes, the roles of men and women are still evident in this issue. For men, drinking alcohol is considered normal. As a matter of fact, men who drink alcohol are labeled hardcore, while men who do not drink are considered weak. On the other hand, for women, drinking alcohol is perceived as indecent. Women who drink alcohol are considered wild and slutty, while women who do not drink are labeled conservative and prim-and-proper.

Alcohol consumption has a lot of bad effects in the society. Because of alcohol intoxication, a number of cases of sexual and drug abuse, suicide and violence have been reported. Furthermore, in the individual, it can pose possible health risks like heart damage, high blood pressure, stroke, brain damage, and liver disease. As we can see, the society can greatly influence the perception of people regarding alcohol consumption. But despite all these, we should not let any of these affect us because none of these are really true. In the end, what just really matter is our own happiness and of course, our health. Yes, alcohol consumption has a lot of negative effects. But it is never bad as long as we observe moderation and responsible drinking. REFERENCES Drug and Alcohol Services (2011). Alcohol and its effects. Retrieved on October 9, 2013 from http://www.dassa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=122 Drug Rehab and Alcohol Rehab Center Asia (2008). Alcoholism in the Philippines. Retrieved on October 9, 2013 from http://alcoholrehab.com/international-rehab/alcohol-rehabphilippines/alcoholism-in-the-philippines/ Teen Drinking Law (2011). Why Young People Drink. Retrieved on October 9, 2013 from http://www.teendrinkinglaw.vic.gov.au/parents/young_why_drink.php