Put Alcohol Harm Prevention Courses in National Basic Education
- 1 Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, Tzu Chi University, Hualian City
Abstract
The majority of alcohol prevention policies concentrate on alcohol pricing and taxation, physical supply controls, alcohol marketing controls, and drink-driving policies. Some have proposed raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21. It doesn’t solve public’s ignorance of the effects of alcohol on our body and one’s future life. Furthermore, alcohol policies in most countries are influenced by alcohol companies and industries. The study suggests that the government should include courses on the impact of alcohol on people’s physical health, family harmony and social order in the national elementary education. As long as the government provides comprehensive education on the health effects of alcohol to adolescents (11 - 12 years old), they will have enough knowledge to protect themselves. This is a source prevention measure to prevent alcoholism. This research conveys the concept of “Prevention at the source” and “purification from the origin”—pragmatically promoted in National elementary education.
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