Ministry of Health offers tips for alcohol consumption during carnival season

During this Carnival Season many Dominicans might be thinking of drinking some form of alcohol or alcoholic drink. The Ministry of health takes this opportunity to remind you of these facts about alcohol consumption.
Alcohol misuse in the form of binge drinking or drinking heavily over a long periods not only harms the individual but is damaging to relationships and society in general in terms of violence and crime, drinking and driving which result in traffic accidents, injury and premature death.

It affects the drinker in many different ways:

1. EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN

Binge drinking can cause blackouts, memory loss and anxiety. Long-term drinking can result in permanent brain damage, serious mental health problems and alcohol dependence or alcoholism. Young people’s brains are particularly vulnerable because the brain is still developing during their teenage years. Alcohol can damage parts of the brain, affecting behaviour and the ability to learn and remember.

2. EFFECTS ON THE HEART

Alcohol can cause high blood pressure (hypertension) increasing the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It also weakens heart muscles, which can affect lungs, liver, brain and other body systems and can cause heart failure. Binge drinking and drinking heavily over longer periods can cause the heart to beat irregularly and has been linked to cases of sudden death.

3. EFFECTS ON THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

This can result in the development of:
•    Stomach ulcers,
•    Internal bleeding
•    Cancer of the stomach and colon

4. OTHER EFFECTS

Weight gain: Alcohol is high in calories. Weight for weight, the alcohol in a drink contains almost as many calories as fat. The average bottle of wine contains 600 calories while four pints of beer contains 640 calories.

Sexual Behaviour: Binge drinking makes you lose your inhibitions and affects your judgement. This might make you less likely to use a condom, increasing your risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection such as gonorrhoea, HIV or result in an unplanned pregnancy

Alcohol affects the parts of your brain that control judgment, concentration, coordination, behaviour and emotions. If you are binge drinking, you may be at greater risk of:
•    becoming a victim of crime, eg rape, domestic violence or assault;
•    being involved in antisocial or criminal behaviour, eg fights, domestic violence, vandalism or theft;
•    having an accident, eg a traffic accident, fall

During this Carnival Season if you do drink please try and stay within recommended limits:
Men – No more than 3 to 4 drinks of alcohol a day
Women- No more than 2 to 3 drinks of alcohol a day

TIPS FOR MANAGING YOUR DRINKING

•    Avoid drinking alcohol

However if you do drink:
•    Eat before or while drinking, and avoid salty snacks, which make you thirsty.
•    Be assertive – don’t be pressured into drinking more than you want or intend to.
•    Know your limits and stick to them.
•    Stay busy – don’t just sit and drink.
•    Try not to confuse large measures of alcohol with standard measures, eg a glass of wine served at a party or at home may be much larger than the standard 125ml.
•    Keep track of your drinks and don’t let people top up your drink until it’s finished.
•    Try alternating alcoholic drinks with water or other non-alcoholic drinks.

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16 Comments

  1. AshleyF
    March 6, 2011

    As usual Dominicans are hypocrites. The same ppl who wrote this are drinking alcohol plen booden yo; let’s live by example for a change.

  2. Muslim_Always
    March 4, 2011

    After all that said about alcohol, you all promote this dangerous drug. This is a society of double standard! Secondly, they use half naked women to advertise this filthy drink.

    Alcohol should be banned from the society, it causes more harm than good in a society. Also, persons who become addicted to alcohol becomes a liability to the state. How many fathers have committed incest with their daughters under the influence of alcohol? The evils of this drink are so many it’s not funny. Thanks be to Allah who has sent the prophet Muhammad with divine revelation, thank Allah under Islamic law the alcoholic is tried and punished. Alcohol under Islamic law is banned. No more drunk men lying on the streets in the hot sun.

    • Bill
      March 5, 2011

      Really? Just how are various transgressors punished under Shari’ah law? Women get raped and are then stoned to death because of it? Maybe few drunk men are laying around the streets because they’re playing with Bacha Bazi. Some muftis claim the trade in opium is halal. Of course killing innocents in suicide bombings is acceptable as long as they’re infidel.

      The double standards of Islam are stupendous.

      A true follower of Christianity abhors the evils of alcohol and shows their concern by assistance and loving care for those under it’s grip, not by stoning, hanging or whatever brutal punishment some Iman thinks is appropriate. This is the teaching of an all loving and forgiving forgiving God. :-D

      Why punish all for the transgressions of a few? Should Dominica be an all encompassing nanny state dictating every aspects of one’s life?

    • yep
      March 5, 2011

      muslim sweeti

      you cannot force one to have a relationship with God. your worship and revence for god should be between you and God. in islamic nations acid is thrown in womens and young girls faces, just because they are seeking an education.school building with young girls are bombed. they are not rescued by authourities because they are not wearing a head scarf.

      the hospitlals is filled with women who burn themselves( try to kill themselves) because they are abused by their husband and they have no other choice but to remain in such situation.
      homosexuals are killed, anybody who paractices any other faith is tortured and killed. mohamned condems the killing of innocent people however if you are not a muslim you are not innocent so you deserve to be killed. that is islam for you the relegion of peace.

      • Muslim_Always
        March 6, 2011

        Why wouldn’t you people stick to the topic? We are speaking about alcohol, none of these activities you mentioned has any relationship in the teachings of islam, just as, pedophilia and other crimes are not associated with christianity.

        • Anonymous
          March 6, 2011

          Thanks be to Allah who has sent the prophet Muhammad with divine revelation, thank Allah under Islamic law the alcoholic is tried and punished.
          _____________________________________________________________________________

          You should read what you post. You DIRECTLY used Islam as an argument against alcohol and as a tool to punish. Unfortunately the religion you use to support your contention isn’t a good example of forgiveness, loving and care for those that most assuredly need our help. I posted examples of Islam’s punishments for that they do not tolerate and the double standards they accept.

          As a follower of Jesus I believe forgiveness, love and charity is the path versus Islam’s hatred and punishment of all who do not submit. Dominicans are smart enough to understand this and reject hatred and punishment versus love, care and understaning.

        • yep
          March 6, 2011

          i am sticking to the topic. your are trying to force your rule on people(banning of alchohol). i do not drink alchohol myself but i see nothing wrong in alchohol if is it taken in moderation. that is what the ilamic faith is about ; forcing people to folow their faith through rules. you are supposed to share your faith like christians do and live it up to the individual to decide for themselves. they will answere to God on judgement day, they aren’t going to answere to no man. we all have laws and rules that we live by in whatever country we live in but in islamic nations…. you are killed if you don’t follow these rules. please don’t wish for that to take plakce in DA
          Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and mine and its yur choice to recieve him as your saivour or not, it’s your choice to live by his rule or your own rules.

        • Muslim_Always
          March 6, 2011

          @ Anomy and Yep: Christianity is not a practical way of life. Do you know what is the definition of an Islamic State? There is a court system and when persons are found guilty the law has to be applied.

          How can one follow a religion but it has no political or judicial system? However, islam is a complete system. It has it’s own economic, social, political, military and judicial system. Religion and State are one, no separation therein, this is the guidance the Most High sent for mankind.

          We worship the same Most High the Messiah worshipped pure and simple. No intermediaries in our worship.

  3. All for legislation
    March 4, 2011

    Really now Ministry of Health? While you’re at it, how about working in collaboration with the Legal dept. to enact legislation about the purchase/availability of alchol to our minors? Go back to de drawing board and work for allu salary/show allu serious about protect our youths, instead of regurgitation info allu get on de internet eh!

  4. The Reader
    March 4, 2011

    Min. of Health please clarify: ” No more than 3 to 4 drinks a day for men”
    Do you mean 3 to 4 shoots or 3 to 4 bottles? Because if is shoots there my carnival finish long time eh..

    • Lol
      March 4, 2011

      Lol, you’re funny…..good tips but what the article failed to say was the size of dat 1 drink (whether a shoot, a jill, 8oz. etc), plus the effect is also based on BMI (Body Mass Index). In other words, taking other factors into consideration, a meg person maybe can builay on 1 drink whilst a hefty person maybe can go on a zillion drinks w/o getting builay.

  5. oh my my my
    March 4, 2011

    thanks for the helpful tips.i for one am going to take heed.

  6. Anonymous
    March 4, 2011

    jump high or low i getting builay this val

    • Anonymous
      March 4, 2011

      damn sot!

    • Roz
      March 4, 2011

      Jumping and builaying not recommended…you might hurt your self. Take care this carnival

    • Mpress
      March 4, 2011

      NO ONE GIVES A RATS ASS YOU IDIOT…..HERE YOU ARE BEING GIVEN VALUABLE INFORMATION AND YOU SPEAKING A BUNCH OF CRAP.STUPESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

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