The Drinks Page

BEWARE THE TEMPERANCE LOBBY!

And stop worrying, these people are not members! Opening Triple F bar and “all you can eat buffet” are Graeme and Elizabeth, Oye, Sangla and Stephen. The pretty white picket fenced place on Rachawittee!

Not so, of course. Latest research underlines facts which most drinkers quietly acknowledge: the alcoholic is often the last to know that he – or she – has a problem. Brain scans and tests of reading, balance and other human functions show that folks who consume more than 100 drinks a month DO have problems. And by ‘drinks’ the University of California team I’m quoting here means a SINGLE spirit, ONE GLASS of wine or a SMALL bottle or can of beer. And that’s for men only! For women, with generally smaller frames and other metabalik, metoboolik, er, system differences, it’s a mere 80 per month.

These figures are far, far below those quoted by UK boffins some 20 years back when only men who exceeded 180 ‘standard’ drinks a month were said to be “at risk” of becoming alcoholic. I know. I filled in the questionnaire. But I’m still completely capable in every way, just as sure as I’m riding this bicycle.

Now where was I? Ah yes! Newspaper ads in California recruited 46 regular heavy drinkers and 52 ‘light’ drinkers who took part in many mental tests. Sadly, I was elsewhere at the time. Can’t remember where, but let’s continue…..

The heavies were “significantly impaired on working memory, processing speed, attention, decision making and balance” says the report. Many, though they functioned relatively well in the community, showed a frightening pattern of brain damage similar to alcoholics already in hospital or treatment centres! “But did the volunteers get free booze?” I hear you cry.

Far from it! They had to go without a drop for a whole 12 hours and, as Dr Peter Martin admitted, they could have been suffering from alcohol withdrawal rather than permanent brain damage. Would these folk still have impairments if they went on the wagon for 3 or 4 weeks? Yup, it was likely that they would have real, long lasting damage, said Martin.

Moderate alcohol use for most adults meant “up to 2 drinks a day for younger men and 1 for women and older people” quoth he. “To be safe, don’t overdo it” was the bottom line. It’s only the “it” that has me worried.

Any spare bottles, mister?

Philippine based giant brewer San Miguel has bought Amarit for $102m to pour into the Thai market faster than it may otherwise take. No loss for me as I never did care for Amarit much - and by their performance in the market place, neither did many others.

So the Asian based Spanish brand has a $100m production facility in Rayong (also making Magnolia ice cream!) and all it needs now is bottles and a way of getting them to us.

“We welcome the competition” said a spokesman for the Thai market leader (70% share!) Chang, adding that SM have saved themselves 2 years development time by buying Amarit. He can afford to be confident, of course, but I do wonder if there was a little hidden glee when he added that obtaining bottles and a distribution network were the newcomer’s next challenges.

And which of the other international big beer boys might be eyeing the buying of Kloster to follow suit?

BUT I DON’T GIVE A CLUCK!

Back to top