Saturday, July 10, 2010

Mongolia’s Alcoholism


UB Post


July 09, 2010


MONGOLIA produces oceanic amount of alcohols, and it is causing the nation to sink it. Every adult Mongolian is reported to be drinking three liters of ethanol spirits per year (total amount of locally produced and imported vodkas, beers, and wines converted into pure spirits).


Alcoholic beverage production, and selling has grown by huge amount. And, the country’s treasury fund is being enriched by excise tax collections implied on vodkas and beers. Birthday, reception for state award recipients, party for new home, graduation day, endless Naadam festivals, as well as world events and Olympic games, especially these days of football matches are not spent without drinking of vodkas and beers. Vodka and beer producers are making their best too.


There is no any place that didn’t build more capacity outdoor beer garden outside of its restaurant. In addition, the government’s Child Money social transaction is making money for vodkas for many low in-come families. Thank to alcoholism in Mongolia, children with genetic disorders are being born lately.


A friend of mine, who has recently traveled to famous Shargaljuut resort and spa, told me that he saw hundred of wheel-chaired children that have spinal anomalies are being taken to the resort place. Last year, same place received three times higher children. Generally speaking, mongoloid type of people or yellow skinned races have no or little ferment to process vodka compared to white skinned people. That’s why we get easily drunk, and get poisoned more.


Russia’s northern indigenous yellow skinned races, minorities of koryaks, chukchi, nenets, and native American Indians have had negative impact of alcoholism. Is there any social reason for alcoholism abuse? it is time we need to make it social debate. In Mongolia’s society, a number of people, who have no goals for their life, have been growing a lot. Life goal, for most people, is too much lower than their real opportunity. We have almost no model person that the whole society can learn lesson from. People do not know about any Mongolian who has succeeded by setting up big goal for life.


Media organizations are not even covering this success stories. You can’t find anyone, who has truly succeeded by using his or her own talents and knowledge, that never used high public position or never ever seek favor from someone influential. There is no hope for life for most of the people. Labor pay is too low, almost half of which goes to the State as tax dues.


Mongolians need to raise our children in alcohol free environment. It is time to make a choice for people other than alcohol. Human Development Fund may fund physical and sporting activities. More public access to gyms and sporting facilities need to built and healthy style of life should be created for all.

2 comments:

  1. What! No comments? I guess most commentators are either still roaring drunk, suffering from massive hangovers, or firing up to start again.

    Speaking as a non-Mongolian who doesn't mind a drink on occasion but finds the consumption large quantities of alcohol physically and mentally taxing, I'm very disturbed by Mongolia's national plague of alcoholism. I hate to say this, but it even makes me think less of Mongolians. While alcoholism is said to be a physical dependency, it's hard not to see people who continually turn to the massive consumption of alcohol as somehow weak and unreliable, no matter how sterling their other qualities are. No doubt this comment will stir immense indignation, but how many readers can honestly say that they feel respect for people who are continually bingeing on alcohol? I say this in sadness, because I personally hope that Mongolia and its people can move forward to a brighter future, a future of physical, mental, material and cultural wellbeing, a future where patriotism means being proud of your country and its people, not just hating your neighbour.

    Mongolians as a nation revere Genghis Khan. He was the man who pulled them together and made them a force to be reckoned with. He was a tough man who enforced tough discipline on a people who were not always well disciplined. And he was very strict on alcohol because he knew it could easily destroy his people. If he saw the pathetic state of the Mongolians today, I'm sure he would be turning in his as yet undiscovered grave.

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  2. I agree with Joseph's second paragraph here.

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