Alcoholic Drinks of Thailand Thailand has its own alcoholic brands such as Chang, Sang Som, Singha, Maekhong etc. among the many names of alcoholic drinks here. All are very popular amongst Thais. People here are fond of drinking. If you want to try some of them, just rock up to any pub or bar and you will not regret. Someone may even buy you a drink!

Thai whisky	Thai Beer	Imported drinks
Alcohol - Effects on the Body	Other effects on the central nervous system

Warning: Alcohol has bad effects on your health and on others.
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Here's a song for all to enjoy: The Beer Song....!


 Thai whisky (laew) refers to a number of distilled rice liquors, the best known being the infamous Mee Khong (" Mekong") brand and its competitor Saeng Som. The only resemblances to whisky are the brown color and high alcohol content, and indeed many people liken the smell to nail polish remover, but the somewhat rum-like taste is not quite as bad, especially when diluted with cola or tonic water.  This is also by far the cheapest way to get blotto, as a pocket flask of the stuff (available in any convenience store or supermarket).

If you want to drink the same as the locals, order laew Khao (white whiskey) or laew daeng (red whiskey) both of these are Chinese and very popular.  Usually mixed with M150 the health drink creating a potent mixture sure to slur your speech and put a glow on your face.  Both of these whiskeys are usually only available at mini marts.

Out in the countryside many villages distil their own moonshine (laew theuan), which is strictly speaking illegal, but nobody seems to mind very much.  Especially when hilltribe trekking in the North you're likely to be invited to sample some, and it's polite to at least take a sip.
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 Thai Beer (bia) is a bit of an up market drink in Thailand, with the price of a small bottle between 50 and 100 baht in most pubs, bars and restaurants, local stores charge around 35 to 80 baht for a large bottle.  The largest brands are Singha (pronounced just Sing) and locally brewed Chang and Hieneken, but there is an ever-changing palette of competitors including, Kloster, Tiger and Leo.  Thais like their lagers with relatively high alcohol content (around 6%), so the beer here may pack more of a punch than you are used to.
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 Imported drinks
Imported liquors, wines and beers are widely available but prohibitively priced for the average Thai.  A shot of any brand-name liquor is at least 100 baht, a pint of Guinness will set you back at least 200 baht and, thanks to a 340% tax, even the cheapest bottle of wine will set you back over 500 baht.  Note that, in cheaper bars (especially the go-go kind), the content of that familiar bottle of Jack Daniels may be something entirely different to what you are used too.
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 Alcohol - Effects on the Body

The brain
Steady drinking over many years leads to permanent changes in the brain. One of the permanent effects of alcohol on the brain is to reduce the amount of brain tissue and to increase the size of the ventricles instead. Another way in which alcoholic drinks affect the brain is through depriving it of food substances such as vitamins.  This is because heavy drinkers often neglect their diet, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies.  Thiamine, one of the 'B' vitamins is most commonly missing from the diet and can lead to serious mental disturbance.

To overcome the common effects of alcohol overdose the night after i.e. hangover, it has been recommended that you take a dose of monster energy drink which is readily available from all 7-11s and is quite cheap.

The Heart
The heart can be affected by the vitamin deficiencies caused by a neglected diet. The pumping action of the heart is weakened.  Heart failure can result from this.

The Liver
Some of the most serious effects on the body of drinking alcoholic drinks are caused by damage done to the liver by alcohol. If alcohol is frequently in the blood in large amounts, it causes the liver cells to die and prevents the liver from working efficiently.  This disease is called Cirrhosis.  In the case of a generally healthy person, if alcohol is taken infrequently or only in moderate amounts, any damaged liver tissue has time to repair itself. Two-thirds of the cases of Cirrhosis of the liver diagnosed in the UK are caused by alcohol.

The Stomach
Just one occasion when you drink heavily can irritate the stomach and cause sickness and pain. The steady drinking of alcohol can lead to the regular occurrence of these symptoms.

The Skin
Alcohol causes small blood vessels in the skin to widen, allowing more blood to flow close to the skin's surface.  This produces a flushed skin colour and a feeling of warmth.

The Reproductive Organs
Your sex life can be harmed by drinking alcoholic drinks.  Alcohol depresses nerve impulses. In men, it can depress those which cause erections.  In women, heavy drinking during pregnancy can harm the foetus.  The baby, when it is born, may be very small and could have reduced intelligence and facial deformities.  This condition is called Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and babies born to mothers with an alcohol problem are at a high risk of suffering from this.

Weight
Alcohol contains sugar and other carbohydrates and so is a good from of energy.  Heavy drinking can cause a serious weight problem due to alcohol's high carbohydrate content.

The Harmful Effects of Alcohol
Brain and Central Nervous System
Impaired behaviour, judgement, memory, concentration and co-ordination Drinker experiences mild euphoria and loss of inhibition as alcohol impairs regions of the brain controlling behaviour and emotion.  Alcohol impairs judgement, memory, concentration and co-ordination; as well as inducing extreme mood swings and emotional outbursts

Brain Damage and Effect
Alcohol acts as a sedative on the Central Nervous System, depressing the nerve cells in the brain, dulling, altering and damaging their ability to respond.  Large doses cause sleep, anesthesia, respiratory failure, coma and death.

Brain Disorders and Addiction
Long term drinking may result in permanent brain damage, serious mental disorders and addiction to alcohol.
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 Other effects on the central nervous system

Eyes
Distorted vision and ability to adjust to lights. Pinpoint pupils and red eyes

Ears
Diminishes ability to distinguish between sounds and perceive their direction
Mouth
Slurred speech. Dulls taste and smell, reducing desire to eat

Throat
Irritation and damage of lining of oesophagus, induces severe vomiting, haemorrhaging, pain and difficulty swallowing. Cancer.

Heart
Weakens the heart muscle and ability to pump (Cardiomyopathy).  Heart enlargement, abnormal heart signs and irregular heart beat.  Increases blood pressure, risk of heart attack and strokes. Inhibits production of white and red blood cells.

Lungs
High amounts of alcohol may cause breathing to stop, then death. Lowered resistance to infection.

Muscles
Muscles become weaker and atrophy, pain, spasms and tenderness

Liver
Chromic heavy drinking may cause alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation and destruction of the liver cells) and then cirrhoses (irreversible lesions, scarring and destruction of liver cells). Impairs the liver's ability to remove yellow pigment and skin appears yellow(Jaundice). Liver damage causes fluid to build in extremities (Edema).  Decreases production of blood-clotting factors; may cause uncontrolled bleeing. Liver accumulates fat which can cause liver failure, coma and death.

Stomach
Irritation of stomach lining, peptic ulcers, inflammation, bleeding lesions and cancer.

Pancreas
Significant risk of pancreatis, a chromic inflammation of the pancreas.

Intestines
Irritation of the lining of the intestinal tract and colon.  Chronic drinking may result in inflammation , ulcers and cancer of the intestines and colon.  Nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, sweating and loss of appetite are common.  Alcohol impairs small intestine's ability to process nutrients and vitamins.

Bones
Alcohol interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium resulting in bones being weak, soft, brittle and thinner (Osteoporosis)

Reproductive System
Males and Females
Sexual functioning can be impaired and deteriorate, resulting in impotence and infertility, so metimes irreversible.  Females also have high risk of developing breast cancer.

Pregnancy and Unborn Babies
Drinking during pregnancy significantly increases the chance of delivering a baby with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, small head, possible brain damage, abnormal facial features, poor muscle tone, speech and sleep disorders and retarded growth and development.
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