Social Justice Smoking and excessive drinking: A stumbling block to human health and national development

Smoking of tobacco and excessive drinking of alcohol have been one of the worse causes of mortality in the world today. The effects of smoking and the drinking of alcohol on people and the future of the world has resulted into many non governmental organisations (NGOs), religious groups, governmental agencies, educational institutions, and philanthropists coming together to aid in the campaign against its adverse effects on the health of the people.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), smoking is a greater cause of death and disability than any single disease, as it is responsible for approximately five million deaths worldwide every year. Tobacco smoking is a known or probable cause of approximately 25 diseases.

For alcohol, medical experts have indicated that it is very rich in energy, packing seven calories per gram, but like pure sugar or fat, the calories are void of nutrients. It enlarges the kidneys, alters hormone functions, increases the risk of kidney failure, causes fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis.

It, as well increases the risk of cancer in the liver, pancreas, rectum, breast, mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus. In as much as tobacco and excessive alcohol drinking is not good for the human health, many countries allow its importation and production.

So far, countries such as Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia have capitalised on an annual celebration - 31st May - and have succeeded in banning smoking in all public places, while countries such as Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Libya have banned alcohol.

Ghana is lagging behind in the accomplishment of an alcohol and smoking free country, as democracy is a stumbling block towards the government taking that decision.

Alcohol
The intake of alcohol is a habit which has been wholeheartedly embraced by Ghanaians, as there are no laws to restrict its intake, either publicly of privately. People, up to date, take locally made alcoholic beverages such as the palm wine, pito, brukutu, and local gin (popularly known as akpeteshie) which were produced by the traditional system of our forefathers, and as well discovered by them long ago, usually in their raw state .

Presently, the various brands of alcoholic beverages are not produced traditionally, but with the aid of modern technology in order to make it more refined, more in quantity, and better in quality. The production of alcoholic beverages has been one of the lucrative businesses in Ghana today.

Everyday producers come out with new brands of alcoholic beverages, and people are introduced to these brands through adverts in the media, which encourages and compels to take these alcoholic drinks Apart from alcohol being taken excessively during social activities such as parties, many Ghanaians have various reasons why they take alcohol, either lightly or excessively. Many Ghanaians have the conception that normally alcohol is an appetite stimulator - that is, it enables one to eat well, when one seems to have no appetite for food.

Many people resort to the habitual taking of alcohol to give them the desire to eat, instead of going for a medical check up to find out what is wrong with their health. Not a single day passes by without some people taking alcohol to boost their appetite, this, as a result, tends to expose the individual to all kinds of alcohol-related diseases.

Some, as well take some alcohol to stimulate their sexual desire, and sometimes to help one sleep.

The reason behind people taking alcohol does not take away the fact that the excessive intake of alcohol is one of the major causes of motor vehicle accidents in Ghana. Its frequent occurrence brought about the slogan “If you drive don't drink, and if you drink don't drive.”

Many people die as a result of drivers' recklessness, and addiction to alcohol. It was a good thing for the government and other NGO's to educate drivers about drinking and driving, and passengers being vigilant about drivers who drive under the influence of alcohol.

Apart from the possibility of getting involved in an accident while under the influence of alcohol, there is also the tendency of being violent resulting in physical or verbal abuse of another person. Most men, under the influence of alcohol, sometimes end up assaulting women sexually, as they mistaken their friendliness for sexual interest.

Most times, when sexual intercourse occurs this way, it increases the rate of unprotected sex, leading to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. According to medical experts, excessive alcohol can result in impotence, infertility, and reduction of male secondary sex characteristics, such as facial and chest hair.

Smoking
In Ghana smoking in public places is not considered an offence. Many smokers smoke excessively in the mist of people, regardless of the health implications involved. It is sad to note that many Ghanaians are naïve of the fact that inhaling smoke exhaled by a smoker has the propensity of one catching smoking-related diseases.

According to the WHO passive or non-smokers are at a greater risk of getting lung cancer, coronary heart diseases, and even cardiac death. Over 600 studies undertaken by experts link passive smoking to ill health, and conclude that passive smoking, or the inhalation of tobacco smoke, by non smokers, increases the risk of lung cancer, heart diseases, and respiratory disease. The International Labour Organisation estimates also show that 200,000 workers die as a result of exposure to passive smoking in the workplace.

While some smoke for pleasure, to release stress or due to nervousness, some indulged in smoking when they visit the toilet. According to them, the extreme unwanted smell in the toilet compels them to smoke when visiting there. They said the scent of the cigarette takes away the smell of the toilet. According to the WHO, at least one person dies every eight seconds, due to tobacco-related diseases. About 13,400 people die each day, and 560 people die each hour globally. By the year 2030, tobacco is expected to be the leading cause of death in the whole world.

Conclusion
The lack of smokers adhering to education concerning the effects of smoking on their health, and more people getting involved in the habit, has made the WHO to bring to notice that more than five million people die from tobacco-related causes, more than HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

It will be a good thing if the government of Ghana comes out a ban on smoking and drinking in public places to prevent non-smokers and non-drinkers from being at risk.

The majority of smokers being a large part of the labour force should put government to haste in accomplishing the ban on smoking and drinking in public places, since as smokers, drinkers and non-smokers die the labour force of the nation will also be reduced.

According to Mr. Dwumah-Odoom, a former deputy minister for health, there were likely to be challenges in the implementation of the ban, and the Ministry hoped to strengthen and formalise its links with the relevant institutions and organisations, to facilitate the implementation of the ban.

“The absence of legislation to ban smoking of cigarettes in all public places; the ban on advertisements of tobacco products, and the imposition of high taxes on tobacco products, are just not doing us any good, but rather giving the tobacco manufacturers the opportunity to penetrate our market,” he added.