Here's an innovative idea to combat the spread of Covid-19 in Cambodia :

December 11, 2020
Tobacco and Alcohol need to be restricted to curb COVID-19
Taing Rinith / Khmer Times

Cambodia is now facing the “November 28 community incident” which so far has seen 39 people test positive for COVID-19. In an interview with Khmer Times journalist Taing Rinith, Dr Mom Kong, Cambodia Movement for Health executive director and this year’s World Health Organization Director-General Special Recognition Awardee, said that part of the effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 should include restricting the consumption of tobacco and alcohol in the Kingdom.

KT: What do think about the current situation of tobacco and alcohol consumption in Cambodia?

Dr Kong: The situation of both tobacco and alcohol consumption in Cambodia is quite serious. There is no law to control alcohol, so people consume a lot of alcohol and even start drinking an early age. Meanwhile, regarding tobacco, Cambodia is still lacking an effective mechanism to control e-cigarettes, which can also cause health problems. In fact, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, both tobacco and alcohol can lead to more infections and death from the coronavirus.

KT: How would you describe the correlation between tobacco and COVID-19?

Dr Kong: First of all, everyone knows that tobacco can cause damage to the lungs. This makes smokers more vulnerable to COVID-19 and even more likely to succumb to the disease. Secondly, smokers touch their mouth more often than non-smokers, which puts them at a higher risk of contracting the virus. Even e-cigarettes can spread the virus as its users usually share them and thus can spread the virus.

KT: How does alcohol affect the situation of COVID-19?

Dr Kong: Consuming alcohol can make people forget to protect themselves from the virus – not to mention that it can weaken their immune system, which leads to more serious health conditions compared to non-drinkers. In Cambodia, people usually gather to drink wine or beer, which again increases the chance for the virus to enter their bodies when they are next to one another or when they clink glasses.

KT: What do you think the government should do to combat alcohol and tobacco consumption amid the pandemic?

Dr Kong: One of the UN’s recommendations is a tax increase on tobacco and alcoholic products – widely considered as a win-win measure as it allows the government to earn more tax revenue and reduce the number consumers.

Second is to strengthen law enforcement through the imposition of fines. The third is the wider participation of all sectors in monitoring tobacco and alcoholic products because the Ministry of Health alone cannot carry out this work successfully.

KT: What should every individual do to contribute to this?

Dr Kong: Obviously, they have to say no, especially to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other health conditions. Parents and adults must educate children and teenagers about the grave consequences of tobacco and alcohol, starting with being good role models for them.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50792019/t ... -covid-19/

Is there any evidence (hard factual evidence, not anecdotal or apocryphal) that a single case of transmission has occurred through alcohol or tobacco consumption? Yes it seems very likely, but no more likely than transmission through someone coughing, sneezing, breathing, singing even. If it really was a major problem then Cambodia, especially the expat population, would have a very high incidence of transmission, given the amount of alcohol consumed and the number of smokers in the community. But no, in a nation of around 17 million there are a bit more than 300 cases and no deaths. Lack of testing? Maybe but the hospitals would still be overflowing and the media would have caught on if the cases were escalating.
So to sum up, a load of old bollocks by some smart-ass self proclaimed expert who feels like expounding his views. Maybe he can also tell us who won the US election. As always my favourite expression comes to mind - opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and some of them stink.

God, things just keep getting weirder. Can't make this shit up.

That being said, it's funny that gyms are closed, but people can go to beer gardens and drink around groups of friends and strangers to their heart's content.

I thought the title meant just say no to drugs, a brilliant phrase coined by Ronnie Raygun's wife's psychic. Well Ronnie I just say yes to drugs. All kinds. Except that garbage methamphetamine.

Bloody Hell, Beers are going to go up to 85c boys! The economy will stop.

Marty wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:53 pm I thought the title meant just say no to drugs, a brilliant phrase coined by Ronnie Raygun's wife's psychic. Well Ronnie I just say yes to drugs. All kinds. Except that garbage methamphetamine.

My words! M= the biggest shit I saw in 50 years!

alexvanlaar wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:23 pm

Marty wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:53 pm I thought the title meant just say no to drugs, a brilliant phrase coined by Ronnie Raygun's wife's psychic. Well Ronnie I just say yes to drugs. All kinds. Except that garbage methamphetamine.

My words!

LOL. My kinda dude! Psychedelic, bro.

I'll drink to that!

alexvanlaar wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:23 pm

Marty wrote: ↑Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:53 pm I thought the title meant just say no to drugs, a brilliant phrase coined by Ronnie Raygun's wife's psychic. Well Ronnie I just say yes to drugs. All kinds. Except that garbage methamphetamine.

My words! M= the biggest shit I saw in 50 years!

That shit, M has been around more than 50 years, longer than us. Though, for various reasons, that poison is somehow fashionable and all the hip kids are smoking or snorting of injecting it. Jesus H Christ! Madness, literally with that garbage.