SX43%LIVERPOOL.AC.UK@evans.ucar.edu (11/19/90)
//////////////Original message//////////////
As-Salaamu alaikum,
The enclosed letter was initially printed in the editorial
columns of a pharmaceutical journal and subsequently reprinted in the
invitatin magazine. It makes some interesting remarks.
Title : Alcohol
Author : Mr R. A. Bhai,MRPharmS.
Source : 'The Invitation' magazine, Sept 1990.
Contact : The Invitation
83 Chadwick Road
Nottingham NG7 5NN
England U.K.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sir,
While welcoming your concern on alcohol misuse and your advice to pharmacis
ts to encourage 'sensible' drinking (PJ June 9 P673) I have to point out that
there seem to be certain inherent contradictions both in the editorial and the
article promoting the Drinkwise campaign (ibid,p688).
Your contention that there is no harm in drinking alcohol in 'moderation' would
seem to contradict the statement quoted in the article from a report by the Ro
yal College of Physicians which states that :
' the greater part of the total harm in the community arises with the group whi
ch drinks moderately'.
Further, both the editorial and the article fail to draw the reader's attention
to a very important point mentioned in the same report, that :
'unfortunately there is insufficient scientific evidence to make completely con
fident statements on how much alcohol is "safe" '.
Thus even the so-called 'safe' limit is not necessarily safe in the light of th
ese remarks.
Elsewhere in the same report, it quotes from a study which says that :
'reproductive function can be seriously disturbed in men taking even modest amo
unts of alcohol'.
Another report that I read of in a newspaper article suggested that regular con
sumption even in modest amounts is likely to reuslt in some damage to the brain
cells. The point is that there is no such thing as a 'safe' limit. And if we th
ink there is then we are deluding ourselves. Thus your statement :
'while tobacco, even in moderation, can be harmful..the same cannot be said in
relation to alcohol',
is stictly speaking incorrect.
However while damage that individuals do to themselves through alcohol can be t
olerated as long as it is confined to themselves, what about the social consequ
ences of alcohol misuse. Should we not as health workers be concerned about the
social effects of this drug which is increasingly giving rise (or at least con
tributing) to a general social breakdown in terms of increasing vandalism, dome
stic violence, child abuse, road accidents, criminal activities, drunkenness, a
bsenteeism, etc. ?
Surely if it were not for the efforts of health workers and social reformers ea
rlier this century in bringing about better social conditions, standards of hyg
iene and sanitation, the sourges of such infectious diseases such as tuberculos
is would perhaps have never been eradicated. Thus it is imperative for pharmaci
sts to discourage the consumption of alcohol, and selling it as a 'beverage' wo
uld be akin to promoting unhealthy habits which lead to poor hygiene, which in
turn could lead to diseases.
Here I do not see any conflict between the pharmacists role in the dispensive o
f much more addictive drugs such as benzodiazepines as compared to alcohol beca
use the former is not generally considered a 'beverage' as is the latter.
On a final note I will leave you with a quote from the Qur'an :
'They will ask thee (ie the Prophet Muhammad (Peace on him) ) concerning intoxi
cants and games of chance. Say, "In both there is great harm as well as some be
nefit for mankind; but the harm which they cause is greater than the benefit wh
ich they bring.' (2:219).
R.A.Bhai, London SE5.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------