Text by Jennifer Manongdo

Photos by Ehcel Hurna 

Despite the long-held idea that moderate alcohol consumption might be beneficial to one’s health, a growing consensus among experts is that alcohol is not good for the heart.

“Alcohol is not good for the heart. The idea that moderate alcohol consumption is protective against heart disease is based on flawed studies,” said Dr. David Jernigan, a professor at the Boston University School of Public Health during a conference titled, “Debunking Alcohol Myths: A Discussion on the Evidence of Alcohol Harms” organized by The Sin Tax Coalition and UP National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Health Promotion Program (HPP) on September 24, 2024, in Quezon City.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer had earlier classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen – the highest risk group along with tobacco, asbestos, and radiation. Over 200 diseases and injury conditions in the body are related to alcohol. These include cirrhosis, fibrosis, liver cancer, alcohol-associated hepatitis, reduced bone density, and colorectal cancer, among others. The risk of developing these diseases increases substantially with more alcohol intake and binge drinking is dangerous, the experts noted.

The event gathered a host of clinical practitioners seeking to challenge the narrative portrayed by the alcohol industry and reveal the harms of consuming alcohol. Participants noted how the alcohol industry creates a perception that drinking is widespread and normal to attract more young people and encourage them to develop the habit.

“It’s time we put up a united campaign against the consumption of alcohol,” Dr. Jernigan emphasized.

Following the opening message delivered by Filomeno Sta. Ana III, Executive Director of Action for Economic Reforms, Dr. Alberto “JR” Ong, from the Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians, gave a presentation on the Perceptions of Health Professionals regarding alcohol followed by Jacqui Drope, Director of Vital Strategies’ RESET Alcohol Program who discussed how evidence can influence clinical practice and policy.

Those who joined the panel and shared their insights on the misconceptions about alcohol are Dr. Tim Naimi, professor and director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at University of Victoria; Dr. Rafael Henry Legaspi, Addiction and Recovery Medicine specialist at the UP-PGH; Dr. Rodney Jimenez, president of the Philippine Heart Association; and Dr. Karen De Lunas, treasurer of the Hepatology Society of the Philippines.

Dr. Hector Santos, president of the Philippine Medical Association, and Dr. Katherine Ann Reyes, program lead of the UPM-NIH Health Promotion Program, delivered their closing messages.

Rodley Carza, Director III of the Department of Health (DOH) Promotion Bureau noted that while culture is driving the local drinking habit, “culture can be changed,” he said as he emphasized the potential for shifting societal norms to encourage healthier habits among Filipinos.#

Prof. David Jernigan of Boston University School of Public Health