LOCAL LITERATURE

More Filipino women beer drinkers than men, says Radio Veritas study By
Jocelyn R. Uy, A study conducted by the Church-run Radio Veritas from May to June
found that its 2,500 respondents nationwide, 52 percent were female beer drinker and
48 percent were male beer drinkers.

It also showed that beer drinking was more prevalent among married
consumers (57 percent) than among the single and unattached (43 percent).

The survey was conducted during the quarter in the 85 archdioceses and
dioceses of the Catholic Church, covering all 17 regions.

The respondents were chosen on the basis of stratified random sampling

with a margin of error of plus or minus 2-percent under Slovin’s formula. The formula
gives a researcher an idea of how large his sample sizes needs to be to ensure a
reasonable accuracy of results.

Dubbed the “Varitas Truth Survey”, a first by the Church-run radio

network, the study was carried out in partnership with diocesan priests and lay people in
an effort to understand Filipinos’ consumption of alcohol

The study was released this month, coinciding with the celebration of
Oktoberfest, usually marked by merrymaking and beer-drinking across the globe.

Apparently, more alcohol drinkers were becoming prudent as 70 out of

Filipinos said they drink alcohol beverages only during special occasions.

Eleven said they consumed alcohol on a weekly basis and six on a

monthly basis. Only four said drinking was part of their daily routine.
 “This would imply that almost 21 percent of Filipinos are regular alcoholic
beverage drinkers”, said the study. More than 25 percent of these drinkers are aged
between 19 and 25 while 14.38 percent are aged 29 to 35.

On a national scale, the survey revealed that 66 percent of Filipinos were

alcoholic beverage drinkers, with those living in Luzon having the highest level of
consumption at 58.9 percent. The Visayas registered a 21.5 percent alcohol
consumption rate and Mindanao, 19.6 percent.

Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Visayas were the top three
regions with the highest alcohol consumption rates at 17 percent, 15 percent and 8
percent, respectively.

The study also found that 41 percent of those earning a monthly salary
of P24,000 consumed beer and other alcoholic drinks.

Aside from the drinking habit of filipinos, the "Veritas Truth Survey" also
tackled other topics, including marriage and public trust in various institution in the
country. The result of these studies were released early this month.

"Alcohol Abuse among Teenegers" Composition II- Professor Dennis

Lawrence, Alcohol abuse among teenagers has many adverse effects on their lives. For
whatever reason, this abuse has gotten out of hand. The teenagers don't realize the
consequences of drinking alcohol are as severe as they are. Some of the effects of this
abuse are health problems loss of interest in school and home activities, and probable
drug use in the future. These effects are endangering our teenager's lives now. One of
these effects of alcohol abuse among teenagers is health problems. A major health
problem is psoriasis of the liver later in life. If someone starts drinking alcohol at such an
early age, their liver will slowly develop this diseaese over their lifetime. Also if alcohol is
introduced to a teenagers developing brain, it is permanently affected. Alcohol also can
stunt their growth processes. All of these health problems will effects these kids their
entire lifetime. Their young bodies, which are still developing and growing, just can't
handle the consumption of alcohol Another health problems is the effect on their still
developing brain. The damage done to the brain at this stage of development is
permanent. Also thier growth may be stuned. Teenagers don't realize that their "good
times" now will have such drastic and long term effects on thier overall health.
(Krasnow, B., 2013)

A second effect of alcohol abuse among teenagers is a loss of interest in their

school and home activities. In most cases, their grades starts to drasticaly drop. They
begin to just care about where and when they will get their next taste of alcohol. Their
group of friends changes to those that are also abusing. If they keep attending school,
they do so only out of necessarily and start not to care if they pass or get an education.
At home, they begin to withdraw from family discussions and activities.

Another literature by MaritonaVictaLabajoin his article “the Filipino as the

quintessential drinker: A study of Alcohol Drinking Patterns among Filipinos” stated that
Alcohol is a tool for bonding ,socializing ,relaxing and depressing inhibitions, facilitates
self-expression and self-disclosure. Alcohol helps healing. Alcohol generates income for
the millions of household selling them in variety stores within neighborhoods. However,
liver cirrhosis and liver cancer (among the top 15 leading causes of death recorded in
the country for the past 10 years), cardiac related diseases, stroke and trauma are the
top most diseases related to alcohol. An average Filipino family spends 1% of its
income on alcoholic beverages. For moderate and heavy drinkers, it Expenditure
Survey, NEDA, 2004 Regular drinking to get intoxicated means leds disposable money
for food, less time for family, can cause intra-family violencs, marital conflicts or children
running away from home.