Hpa-an, 7 March

Talks on alcohol related gender-based violence and poverty were conducted at “Tawwin Yadanar” hotel in the capital city of Pha-an in Kayin state this morning. 

It was jointly organized by “Metta” social environment development association and the State Social Welfare Department in order to seek solutions through discussion of the facts obtained from the observation of problems begot from alcohol related gender-based violence and poverty.

U Zaw Min, director of the State SWD said that today’s event is to handle health problems arisen from alcohol but not to alleviate the intake of alcohol. He continued that drinking excessive amount of alcohol can cause consequence problems such as violence, poverty, underdevelopment in social life and social problems, urging the attendants to actively participate in the talks. 

Then, Daw Naw Mu Phaw, director of the association explained the works carried out by the association, followed by group discussions on problems culminating from alcohol by the participants. 

In Myanmar, over 62 percent of the youths are consuming alcohol, with the increase rate of consumption. In order to control the sales of alcohol, a threat to the youths, it is needed to tighten granting of alcohol licenses and to ban selling of alcohol to under-aged teenagers, according to the talks.—Nay Myo Lwin ( IPRD)

Translated by Khine Thaw