The Liberia Alcohol Policy Alliance (LAPA) an affiliate of West Africa Alcohol Policy Alliance in West Africa (WAAPA) is calling on government to immediately impose stringent restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in country, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mrs. Roseline Thomas Richards, the head of Secretariat of LAPA notes with grave concern that alcohol is known to be harmful to health in general and is well understood to increase the risk of injury and violence, including intimate partner violence and cause alcohol poisoning.
In a press release over the weekend, Mrs. Richards disclosed that at times of lockdown during this period of COVID 19 in world history, alcohol consumption can exacerbate health vulnerability risk-taking behaviors.
She said it can also exacerbate mental health issues with women and children been victimized at the result of alcohol.
“Widening the space for more consumption of alcohol in Liberia is dangerous and could increase the COVID19 death toll on the already poor health status of the needy,” the LAPA press release added.
LAPA says it wants to reinforce WHO position that drinking alcohol does not protect anyone from COVID-19, but only increase their vulnerability to the disease, especially time like this.
The group says additional lockdown measures must include government determination to enforce measures which limit alcohol production, circulation and consumption.
LAPA says based on research has found out that fear and misinformation has generated a dangerous myth that consuming high strength alcohol can kill the COVID 19 virus.
As Liberia premier alliance against alcohol, LAPA condemns such myth and add that consuming any alcohol poses health risk but consuming high strength alcohol (ethanol) particularly if it has been adulterated with methanol can result in severe health consequences, including death as 600 persons died in Iran last month.
Furthermore, the Liberian Alcohol Policy Alliance also says the consumption is associated with communicable and non-communicable diseases and mental health disorder, which can make a person more vulnerable to COVID-19 and particularly, alcohol compromises the body’s immune system and increase the risk of diverse health.
LAPA believes that there is no time appropriate than now for everyone to minimize their alcohol consumption in the midst of COVID-19.