ADDICTION TO TRADITIONAL LIQUOR CAUSING HARDSHIP IN CAMP

Mae Hong Son- As the brown sun light faded above me, I moved toward the smoke rising from a small hut.

A 27 years old woman was building a fire in a clearing at the base of the ladder leading to the entrance of the hut. As I sat beside her, an unpleasant smell made me dizzy. The smell came from a white glass she held in her shaking hand.

The young woman seemed angry and agitated and in a state of confusion. But, as she drank some of the three inches of clear liquid in the glass, her face turned bright pink.

Then she welcomed me with a satisfied smile.  

“I know the liquor can cause a person all kinds of hardship throughout their lives,” she said to me. “And, when I get my hands on the bottle and drink it makes me vomit. But, after I drink I’m happy. So, it’s worth it.”   

Her name is Thet Thet Myar. She has three children. The oldest is a 13 year boy and the youngest is just 4 years old.  

She and her family have lived in Karenni refugee camp #2, near Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand, for more than 10 years

She said she became addicted to Karenni traditional liquor as a teenager. Her husband is also addicted.  

“My face swells up if I don’t drink it,” she said.

She also said their drinking has caused financial struggles for the family. The traditional liquor is used prominently during Karenni festivals such as Dee Ku, Kay Htoe Boe, ghost calling, serving food to spirits and name giving. Kayah’s believe liquor calms the spirits.  

“When paying a visit during Kayah traditional festival, at least, you have to take a sip. If not, the spirits are unhappy. Older people force you to take a sip,” said a Kayah man who has been drinking since he was young. He asked not to be identified.

“I started drinking liquor when I started waking. There is no age limit,” he said with a laugh.  

“When I started drinking, it made me vomit. And, my throat got sore. Now, it doesn’t make me drunk no matter how much I drink,” said a 37 years old Khoon Aung Nge.  

Many Karenni excuse their drunken behavior because the liquor is a longstanding tradition.

But, some say it is the cause of social problems, such as rampant domestic violence. The liquor is made mostly from rice. But, is also cooked from sticky rice, maize and corn.

“Making it from maize is the best. It produces most liquid,” said a Karenni woman who cooks liquor from a traditional recipe.  

Some say Karenni people will never stop making it.

“We believe cooking liquor is fundamental,” a 47 year old woman told me while making up a batch.    

Another 47 year old man said while tending his recipe, “We cannot leave behind our tradition of cooking liquor.”

Liquor is cooked for use in traditional ceremonies, but, many people also do it to make money for their family.

And, although cooking and drinking liquor is legal inside Karenni, refugees living in Thailand are not allowed to make it according to Thai Law.  
“If you want to cook, you have to get permission from camp authorities. A camp committee overseeing traditional celebrations gives people permission to cook during festivals,” said U Daw Nel, chairperson of Camp # 2 administration.  

“You can be arrested by local authorities for cooking outside festival times. You will be pardoned for the first and second time and warned not to cook again. If caught a third time, you will be arrested for breaking camp regulations. If found continuing to do it, you will be transferred to Thai authorities. According to Thai law while living in Thailand, we have to comply with Thai law,” explained U Daw Nel.  

Health officials warn drinking affects the brain, liver, hormones, stomach and causes mental health problems.   

“Many people go to the clinic because of drinking. Either directly or indirectly, drinking causes sickness and social problems such as domestic violence which harms the community.” said Nye Reh, primary health care coordinator (PHCC).  

“Some say ‘drinking is good medicine.’ But, there are risks, So, I do not encourage anyone to drink,” he said.

“But liquor is good for heart narrow vein,” he added, acknowledging one possible health benefit.

“You can drink a cup of strong liquor for your heart disease. Heart disease mostly involves a narrow vein. The vein will expand after drinking. At the time of drinking, the problem is reduced. However, if you excessively drink, it will cause the vein to narrow again, which is not good.”   

“Liquor also causes mental disorders. If someone quits suddenly, he/she will become irritable. After that he/she might have hallucinations and becomes afraid of all kinds of normal things. He/she might attack someone or might commit suicide.”

Health issues also include kidney damage, loss of eyesight and male impotence.  

Some liquor addicted people get help from their relatives to give up drinking because they have caused problems to their family and community.  
And, an organization known as Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Education (DARE) tries to help excessive drinkers stop drinking.  

“Some people can stop by themselves. But some need help,” a DARE official named Jennifer said in an interview.  

DARE can host up to 15 addicted drinkers at a time in their rehab program, depending on availability of staff and other resources.  

Drinkers who have committed crimes appear before Camp officials or go to court, “To stop drinking, they are permitted to choose three months of rehabilitation. They can either go to DARE or jail,” explained Jennifer.  
Meanwhile, Thet Thet Myar is sitting in front of her hut, drinking one cup of liquor after another.

“I don’t know whether I can stop it or not. It is not easy to stop,” she said.  

For her and other liquor addicted people, programs like DARE might be able to help them start on their journey to a new life.