A survey by ThaiHealth found most Thais are unaware that the consumption of alcoholic drinks can increase the risk of cancer, highlighting alcohol's central role in the country's worsening non-communicable diseases (NCDs) crisis.
The findings were presented at a forum hosted by the Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS), the Association of Thai NCD Alliance, and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).
Dr Pairoj Saonuam, deputy CEO of ThaiHealth, said Thailand's NCDs crisis is showing no signs of abating, driven by obesity, hypertension, diabetes and high-risk behaviours caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen and is linked to at least eight cancers, including oral, oesophageal, breast, liver and colorectal cancers. Yet awareness remains alarmingly low, he said.
"Our survey of 3,924 people across 12 provinces found that over 90% of respondents do not know alcohol can cause cancer," Dr Pairoj said.
"This shows the urgent need for accurate risk communication and safer social environments."
Assoc Prof Dr Roengrudee Patanavanich, from Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine, said the latest national survey on alcohol consumption found 17.1 million Thais aged 15 and above have consumed alcohol in the past month, with 7.7 million, or 45% of respondents, admitting to drinking heavily.
Teen drinking patterns are especially worrying, with male and female consumption rates now almost identical, she said.
She added that alcohol consumption is also widespread among people living with chronic diseases.
CAS director Assoc Prof Dr Polathep Vichitkunakorn said Thailand has the third-highest alcohol consumption rate in Asean, with the average age of first drinking now down to 19.9 years.
"Every ten seconds, alcohol kills one person through injuries and NCDs such as heart disease, liver disease and multiple cancers," he warned, calling for stronger national control policies to reduce Thailand's rising NCD burden.
