By Albert Allotey
Accra, Dec. 18, GNA- The Alcohol Policy Alliance – Ghana (GhanAPA), a civil society organisation has called on the Minister of Health, the Attorney-General and Parliament to swiftly pass the Alcohol Control Legislative Instrument to save lives, especially young persons.
It stated that alcohol is a psycho-active, toxic and dependence-producing substance and that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), no level of alcohol consumption is safe for human health.
A statement by the GhanAPA and copied to the Ghana News Agency said some of the risk factors of alcohol consumption were traumatic experiences, sexual or physical abuse, mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, substance use disorders, and learning disabilities like attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
It stated that regulating the hours, days and intensity of alcohol outlets and raising the national legal age limit for drinking and consuming alcohol was another effective strategy used to reduce alcohol use and harm.
“Currently in Ghana, the national legal minimum age for consumption of alcohol is 18 years however, the WHO has stated that the recommended minimum age should be 25 years as research has found out that young adults below 25 years are still developing their learning, memory and mental capacities, including dementia and poor school performance,” the statement said.
It said alcohol intake impacted the younger generation below the minimum age of 25 years with harms including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, digestive problems, cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, oesophagus, voice box, liver, colon, rectum and weakening of the immune system.
The GhanAPA said during Christmas festivities drivers should avoid the consumption of alcohol to reduce the risk of speeding, blurry vision, and poor judgement, which would lead to severe road crashes resulting in deaths, disabilities and loss to families.
It urged all Ghanaians to heed to the call for all to be caring and responsible by avoiding alcohol consumption.
The GhanAPA was formed in 2019 by an amalgamation of nine civil society organisations (CSOs) working towards advancing a vision of a healthy nation through policy development and advocacy and has a mission of contributing to the elimination of alcohol-related harms in Ghana.
Its institutional membership now stands at 12 independent CSOs.
GNA