Traditional alcohol production and use in three provinces in Vietnam: an ethnographic exploration of health benefits and risks

BMC Public Health

Ian M Newman¹  Thi Thieng Nguyen²  Bich Ngoc Luu² 

[1] Department of Educational Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA;Institute for Population and Social Studies, National Economics University, Hanoi, Vietnam

关键词: Moonshine Vietnam;    Homemade;    Illicit;    Informal;    Non-commercial;    Traditional;    Ethnography;    Alcohol;   

Others  :  864976
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-14-731

 received in 2014-04-02, accepted in 2014-07-10,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Gaps exist in knowledge about the production and use of traditional alcohols, particularly in Asia. This study adds new information about the nature, production and sale of traditional distilled spirit alcohol in Vietnam.

Method

This was an ethnographic study of traditional distilled spirit alcohol production in rural areas of three provinces in Vietnam. Researchers interviewed more than 300 individuals and recorded responses to general open-ended questions about local alcohol production. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and studied to discern what information about traditional alcohol was important to the speakers.

Results

Methods of production followed long-held traditions. Participants listed both personal and community benefits (economic, health, and social) from traditional alcohol making. Older people favoured traditional alcohol, while younger people favoured brand-name beer. Typically people consumed 2-4 drinks daily, mainly at meal times. People consumed more alcohol at special events and festivals. Distribution patterns ranged from low-risk distribution to family and neighbours to high-risk distribution by an agent who might combine alcohol from several producers, which increases the opportunity for dilution and adulteration. The most commonly listed health risks associated with locally-made alcohol were local air pollution and water pollution; participants also mentioned traffic crashes and bad public behaviour. Depending on the location, community leaders reported that production may be relatively stable or it may be declining.

Conclusions

Traditional alcohol manufacture, sale, and use in Vietnam is a long-standing practice and low- to moderate-risk to health. There do not appear to be instances of accidental or intentional contamination. Urbanization seems to be affecting the market share of traditional alcohol as urbanized youth turn to branded products, mainly beer, making traditional alcohol making and consumption an activity mainly linked to older people in rural areas. In the rural areas surveyed, significant economic and social benefits are derived from traditional alcohol manufacture, sale, and use. Policy makers designing ways to reduce alcohol-related risks and harms need to give thoughtful consideration to the role traditional alcohol plays in the local society and to suggest changes that do not create unintended problems.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Luu et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

【 参考文献 】

• [1]World Health Organization: Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol. Geneva: WHO; 2010.
• [2]World Health Organization: Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health. 2014 edition. Geneva: WHO; 2014.
• [3]International Center for Alcohol Policies: Producers, Sellers and Drinkers: Studies of Non-commercial Alcohol in Nine Countries. Washington, DC: ICAP; 2012.
• [4]International Center for Alcohol Policies: Non-commercial alcohol: understanding the informal market. In ICAP Policy Tools Series: Issues Briefings. Washington: DC: ICAP; 2010.
• [5]Brewer JD: Ethnography. Philadelphia: Open University Press; 2000.
• [6]Reeves S, Kuper A, Hodges BD: Qualitative research methodologies: ethnography. BMJ 2008, 337:a1020. doi:10.1163/bmj.a1020
• [7]World Health Organization: Global Status Report on Alcohol 2004. Geneva; 2004:11. Table 3
• [8]Rehm J, Gmel G, Room R, Frick U: Appendix 2: Alcohol per capita consumption, patterns of drinking and abstention worldwide after 1995*. Eur Addict Res 2001, 7:155-157.
• [9]World Health Organization: Global Status Report on Alcohol 2011, Country Profiles, Vietnam. Geneva; 2001. p. 258. [http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241564151_eng_Appendix_I_WPRO.pdf]
• [10]World Health Organization: Global Status Report on Alcohol 2011. Geneva; 2011.
• [11]Haworth A, Simpson R (Eds): Moonshine Markets. New York: Brunner-Routledge; 2004.
• [12]Adelekan M: Non-commercial alcohol in sub-Saharan Africa. In ICAP Review 3: Non-commercial Alcohol in Three Regions. Washington, DC: ICAP; 2008:3-14.
• [13]Razvodovsky YE: Non-commercial alcohol in central and eastern Europe. In ICAP Review 3: Non-commercial Alcohol in Three Regions. Washington, DC: ICAP; 2008:17-23.
• [14]Liyanage U: Non-commercial Alcohol in Southern Asia: the case of kasippu in Sri Lanka. In ICAP Review 3: Non-commercial Alcohol in Three Regions. Washington, DC: ICAP; 2008:24-34.
• [15]Lachenmeier DW, Gmel G, Rehm J: Unrecorded alcohol consumption. In Alcohol: Science, Policy and Public Health Edited by Boyle P, Boffetta P, Lowenfels AB, Burns H, Brawley O, Zatonski W, Rehm J. 2013. Oxford: Oxford online; 2013: doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199655786.003.0015
• [16]Razvodovsky YE: Unrecorded alcohol consumption: quantitative methods of estimation. Addiction 2010, 46:15-24.
• [17]Rehm J, Kanteres F, Lachenmeier DW: Unrecorded consumption, quality of alcohol and health consequences. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010, 29:426-436.
• [18]Razvodovsky YE: Некоммерческий алкоголь в Беларуси медицинские и социальные аспекты [non-commercial alcohol in Belarus: medical and social aspects]. Saarbrucken: Lambert Academic Publishing (LAP); 2012.
• [19]Lachenmeier DW, Schoeberl K, Kanteres F, Kuballa T, Sohnius EM, Rehm J: Is contaminated unrecorded alcohol a health problem in the European Union? a review of existing and methodological outline for future studies. Addiction 2011, 106(suppl 1):20-30.
• [20]Ndetei DM, Khasakhala LI, Ongecha-Owuor FA, Kuria MW, Mutiso V, Kokonya DA: Prevalence of substance abuse among patients in general medical facilities in Kenya. J Subst Abuse 2009, 30:182-190.
• [21]Obot IS: Alcohol use and related problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Afr J Drug Acohol Stud 2006, 5:17-26.
• [22]Rehm J, Kailasapillai S, Larsen E, Rehm M, Samokhvalov A, Shield KD, Roerecke M, Lachenmeier DW: A systematic review of the epidemiology of unrecorded alcohol consumption and the chemical composition of unrecorded alcohol. Addiction 2014, 109(6):880-893.
• [23]Pham Xuan Da: Study on physico-chemical quality of traditional spirits in Vietnam. Vietnamese J Prevent Med 2009, XIX(3):46-51.
• [24]Pham Xuan Da: Study about the labor resources in traditional wine production establishments in Vietnam. Vietnamese J Pract Med 2009, 657:3-5.
• [25]Pham Xuan Da: Study about raw materials and consumption areas of traditional wine in Vietnam. Vietnamese J Pract Med 2009, 650:58-60.
• [26]Pham Xuan Da: Study about food hygiene and safety conditions of traditional wine production establishments in Vietnam. Vietnamese J Prevent Med 2009, XIX(3):52-56.
• [27]Pham Xuan Da: Study about the labor quality of traditional wine production establishments in Vietnam. Vietnamese J Prevent Med 2009, XIX(4):74-80.
• [28]Pham Xuan Da: A study about production output of some traditional wines in Area 3, 4, and 5 in Vietnam. Vietnamese J Pract Med 2009, 657:34-35.
• [29]Pham Xuan Da: A study of annual production of some traditional wines in wine zone 1 & 2 in Vietnam. Vietnamese J Pract Med 2009, (662):13-15.
• [30]Pham Xuan Da: Study about the production and consumption of alcoholic beverages in some countries around the world. Journal Vietnamese J Pract Med 2009, (662):63-65.
• [31]Peters EJ: Taste, taxes, and technologies: industrializing rice alcohol in northern Vietnam, 1902-1913. French Histor Stud 2004, 27:pages not given.
• [32]Thanh Nién News.com: Vietnam’s ban of unregistered rice wine may be tough to enforce. Ho Chi Minh City; http://www.thanhniennews.com/society/vietnams-ban-of-unregistered-rice-wine-may-be-tough-to-enforce-3901.html
• [33]Newman IM, Kanjanawong S: Using photography to cross generational, linguistic, and cultural barriers to develop useful survey instruments. Health Promot Pract 2005, 6:53.
• [34]Room R: Intoxication and bad behavior: understanding cultural differences in the link. Soc Sci Med 2001, 53:189-198.
• [35]Room R, Mäkelä K: Typologies of the cultural position of drinking. J Stud Alcohol 2000, 61:18.
• [36]Dietze P, Ferris J, Room R: Who suggests drinking less? Demographic and national differences in informal social controls on drinking. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2013, 74:859-866.
• [37]Lachenmeier DW, Pham THA, Popova S, Rehm J: The quality of alcohol products in Vietnam and its implications for public health. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2009, 6:2090-2101.