Polathep Vichitkunakorn
polathep.bsky.social
Polathep Vichitkunakorn
@polathep.bsky.social
MD PhD (Epidemiology), Director of Centre for Alcohol Studies, Thailand | Assist. Dean of Research Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla Uni
Big step for Thailand 🇹🇭 in tackling alcohol dependence.

The national sub-committee just approved the use of Acamprosate & Naltrexone as “anti-alcohol” medicines—expanding access to treatment and pushing for full ICD-10 coding so hospitals can get reimbursed properly.

www.hfocus.org/content/2025...
อนุกรรมการบำบัดผู้ติดแอลกอฮอล์ เคาะใช้ “ยาเลิกเหล้า” เพิ่มเข้าถึงรักษาผู้ติดสุรา | Hfocus.org
ที่ประชุมคณะอนุกรรมการด้านบำบัดรักษาหรือฟื้นฟูสภาพผู้ติดเครื่องดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ ไฟเขียวใช้ยาเลิกเหล้า Acamprosate และ Naltrexone เพื่อการบำบัดรักษาในไทย
www.hfocus.org
October 9, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Just published in IJADR 🎉

ASEAN collaborative protocol on alcohol policy → consumption → life expectancy / economy (2000–2023) 🌏📈

Co-funded by @who.int Western Pacific and Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS), Thaihealth 🤝

🔗 ijadr.org/index.php/ij...

#ASEAN #AlcoholPolicy
View of Protocol to study the role of alcohol consumption and alcohol control policy for economic development and health in membership countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) ...
ijadr.org
October 2, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Recently published in BMC Public Health: WHO-ThaiHealth shows ~1 in 2 Thais cared for a drinker in the past year 😮 Cleaning (~31%) • rides (~20%). Reducing heavy drinking = less burden on families & workplaces. @who.int @moph.neocities.org
...
doi.org/10.1186/s128...
Association between caring for drinkers and the sociodemographic factors of caregivers in Thailand: data from the WHO-ThaiHealth project - BMC Public Health
Introduction This study aimed to determine the prevalence of various kinds of care for drinkers in Thailand and investigate the relationships between the sociodemographic factors of caring and the experiences of caring for drinkers. Methods Secondary data from the World Health Organization (WHO)/ThaiHealth International Collaborative Research Project were analyzed. The survey included 1,695 participants aged between 18 and 70 years from four regions, and Bangkok. The data were collected using face-to-face interviews and collected a range of data on the impact of alcohol on others. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regressions are presented. Results Among 1,580 respondents, approximately 695 respondents (45.41%) had given at least one type of care for a drinker in the last 12 months. Respondents took extra responsibility for cleaning the house of drinkers after drinking (n = 476:31.22%), followed by spending time caring for a drinker (n = 317: 21.48%) and driving or picking up a drinker (n = 301:19.82%). Men had a higher proportion of giving care than women (55.65% vs. 38.23%), with significant differences in all types of care (p-value < 0.001). Approximately two-thirds of respondents aged 18‒39 years reported giving any care for people who drink. Respondents who infrequently drank five or more standard drinks per day were 4.11 (95%CI 2.49 to 6.76) times more likely than non-drinkers to report giving any care, while those who frequently drank five or more standard drinks were 4.51 (95%CI 2.44 to 8.31) times more likely than non-drinkers to report the same. Discussion and conclusions The study showed that the burden of caring for drinkers was more likely found in males and was positively associated with more drinking. Thus, a policy approach that reduces consumption would reduce the impact on the prevalence of caring for others.
doi.org
October 1, 2025 at 12:43 PM
JAMA Network Open meta-analysis (13 studies) shows that each +1 L increase in per-capita alcohol consumption (APC) is associated with ~3.59% higher suicide mortality, with no sex difference. Alcohol policy should be integrated into suicide-prevention strategies.
doi.org/10.1001/jama...
September 26, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Polathep Vichitkunakorn
"Contrary to some claims that marketing is about market share rather than increasing consumption, the evidence base, comprising 26 studies, suggests that there is a relationship between marketing and consumption"

- Public Health Scot's alc marketing review

publichealthscotland.scot/media/34628/...
September 22, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Big Alcohol/Tobacco/UPF are blocking health reforms. Meanwhile in Thailand, the new Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (No.2) B.E.2568 adds industry reps to the national alcohol-control committee; provincial/BMA rules pending.
...
🔗 www.reuters.com/business/hea...
www.reuters.com
September 20, 2025 at 1:56 AM
The 2–5 PM alcohol sales ban is still enforced in Thailand. This remains in effect pending sub-regs under the newly promulgated Alcohol Beverage Control Act (No. 2) in the Royal Gazette.
September 18, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Thailand’s Alcohol Control Act (first enacted in 2008) has been amended.
📢 The 2nd Act was published in the Royal Gazette on Sept 9, 2025.
⚠️ CAS is concerned: new relaxations may increase youth access, health harms & social violence.

#AlcoholPolicy

ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/83...
September 9, 2025 at 10:06 PM
📍9 กย วันตระหนักรู้ภาวะผิดปกติของทารกในครรภ์จากแอลกอฮอล์
(International FASD Awareness Day)

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders กลุ่มอาการผิดปกติของทารกจากการดื่มแอลกอฮอล์ของมารดาขณะตั้งครรภ์

สมองได้รับผลกระทบตั้งแต่ในท้อง ส่งผลต่อ พฤติกรรม การเรียนรู้ และสุขภาพตลอดชีวิต

การไม่ดื่มแอลกอฮอล์เลยในระหว่างตั้งครรภ์ คือการปกป้องลูกน้อย 💙

#FASD
September 9, 2025 at 5:32 AM
📢 The Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS) is now accepting research proposals on alcohol control (2025–2027, Round 1).
Priorities: New Act, small producers, large industry, youth & women, alcohol & drugs, and more.
Details 👉 cas.or.th/content?id=965
September 8, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Thailand’s drink drive repeat-offense law turns 3. Credit to the Road Safety Academic Center (RSAC) and the Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS) for evidence support and coordination. Goal: make “repeat offense = the end.” #drinkdrive #RoadSafety ##AlcoholPolicy @moph.neocities.org
September 7, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Reposted by Polathep Vichitkunakorn
1 in 3 young people aged 11+ are seeing alcohol promotions online – from ads to influencers. Brands are normalising drinking for kids & dodging age checks. We back @cancerresearchuk.org calls for tighter controls. @aha-uk.bsky.social @ias.org.uk #WhatsTheHarm 🔽 shorturl.at/zWTkJ
Children and young people are being saturated by online alcohol advertising - Fresh Balance
Balance has raised serious concerns following a major new study revealing that more than one in three young people aged 11 and over report being exposed to alcohol-related online promotions from compa...
shorturl.at
August 29, 2025 at 7:52 AM
In Thailand, provinces consider lifting alcohol bans on Buddhist holy days under the govt’s economic stimulus policy.
⚠️ CAS warns of harm to youth & erosion of cultural values.

🔗 www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/gen...

#AlcoholPolicy #Thailand
Cha-am beach mulls alcohol sales on 5 Buddhist holy days to boost tourism, economy
PHETCHABURI - This central Thai province is considering allowing sales of spirits on Cha-am beach and nearby areas on five major Buddhist days to cater to tourists and promote the local economy.
www.bangkokpost.com
August 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
🌍 Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS) enters Phase 8 (2025–2028)
Grounded in human rights, CAS drives alcohol control policies to safeguard everyone’s right to health and safety ✊

#CAS #HumanRights #AlcoholPolicy
August 22, 2025 at 11:41 PM
ข่าวใหญ่ทั่วโลก: คนอเมริกัน “ดื่มเหล้าลดลง” ต่ำสุดในรอบเกือบ 90 ปี!
August 18, 2025 at 11:28 PM
This 9-minute film just changed how I see the future of AI.

Its answer to the classic trolley problem is chillingly logical... and you might not like it.

Watch it and then answer this: Are we building a savior or a monster?

#AIEthics #AIDilemma #ArtificialIntelligence #MustWatch #AI
PMAC 2025: Let ethics guide technology in an age of AI
YouTube video by Prince Mahidol Award Conference
www.youtube.com
August 18, 2025 at 2:56 AM
The Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS) held a Policy Dialogue on alcohol control (31 Jul–1 Aug 2025).
We were honored to have @DrPrakit_ASH, Thailand’s leading tobacco control advocate, share lessons to inspire stronger alcohol policies.
#CAS #AlcoholPolicy #PolicyDialogue
August 17, 2025 at 3:23 AM
Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS) joined the PSU Faculty of Medicine Annual Conference 2025 with the session “What’s New in the New Alcohol Control Act?” on Aug 15.
We shared insights on evidence-based policy for a healthier Thailand.
#CAS #AlcoholPolicy #PSU
August 17, 2025 at 3:16 AM
The Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS) Thailand launches Phase 8 of its research roadmap, focusing on 5 priorities: small producers, big industry tactics, youth & women, alcohol + other substances, and policy reform. #AlcoholPolicy #Thailand
July 11, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Honoured to contribute as a co-author to this important study on the rising burden of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Asia.
ALD deaths have increased by over 40% since 2000.
Urgent, region-specific policy action is needed.
doi.org/10.1002/ueg2...
#AlcoholPolicy
Burden of Alcohol‐Related Liver Disease and Alcohol Use Disorder in Asia
Background As alcohol consumption continues to rise rapidly in Asia, research into its significant consequences, alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and alcohol use disorder (AUD) is still limited......
doi.org
July 6, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Reposted by Polathep Vichitkunakorn
Why is youth drinking in decline?

Listen to our latest podcast to hear why it's more than any one cause, and needs to be understood from a broader sociological position of generational change.
Ft. @jholmessheff.bsky.social and @amypennay.bsky.social

Listen here: www.ias.org.uk/podcast/why-...
Why are young people drinking less? - Institute of Alcohol Studies
On this month’s podcast we spoke to Professor John Holmes, University of Sheffield, and Amy Pennay, La Trobe University, about their new book: Young People, Alcohol, and Risk: A Culture of Caution. W...
www.ias.org.uk
June 27, 2025 at 7:02 AM
📣 Important reminder from @theguardian.com:
Public health must come before profit.

Alcohol policy should be based on evidence — not shaped by industry influence.
Tackling alcohol harm must be part of every serious national health strategy.

#AlcoholPolicy #PublicHealth #EvidenceBasedPolicy
The @theguardian.com's view on alcohol is that the industry must not control the narrative and the government has to tackle alcohol harm in its 10-year health plan.

The paper rightly points to minimum unit pricing as a crucial part of the strategy.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on alcohol and public health: the drinks industry must not control the narrative | Editorial
Editorial: Politicians who are serious about public health can’t ignore the rising toll of illness and death linked to drinking
www.theguardian.com
June 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
🚭 #WorldNoTobaccoDay
“Just a little drink”? Think again.
🍻 Regular drinkers are nearly 4x more likely to smoke.
Quit smoking — it might help you quit drinking too!
📖 doi:10.1111/dar.13128 @apsad-dar.bsky.social
#WorldNoTobaccoDay
June 1, 2025 at 5:34 PM
“I didn’t stop drinking for my health... I stopped because it was making me poor.” – Henry Mance, FT

We think a few drinks won’t hurt.
But we’re not just paying for alcohol —
We’re paying for impulsive choices,
Lost mornings,
And a future we didn’t realize we were giving up.
June 1, 2025 at 1:55 AM