Who is your hero in life?

The answers may vary. Some might say Spider-Man, Captain America, or a tough fighter from a TV drama. But for many, the one hero in their hearts is "Dad."

This Father's Day, the Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) collaborates with the Gender Equality Foundation, the Alcohol-Free Network, and youth networks to prevent new drinkers to organize a campaign under the concept: Dad Can Change: MY HERO.

"Dad is my hero." I believe that when we were kids, teachers often asked us to draw pictures or write essays about this. Do you remember how you described your hero in your life? Dad is everything: a brother, a friend, a teacher, a craftsman, and a hero. One thing that I believe every child wants is for our hero to stay with us for a long time.

Good health is something everyone desires. There are only a few risk factors that can undermine our health, one of which is alcohol and tobacco, which undeniably impact every dimension: economy, body, and society. Last Buddhist Lent, many people successfully abstained from alcohol for three months, and many others have quit drinking for life. This is a positive sign that in Thai society, more people are reducing or quitting alcohol. Pharmacist Songkran Pakchokdee, Director of the Alcohol-Free Network, stated that it is believed that fathers serve as good role models for their children. If a father can reduce or quit drinking, it is even better than just teaching their children because a good example is worth more than words. Many fathers have succeeded in this; some, upon having children, think about what they can do for their kids.

"Most drinkers in Thailand are men, which leads to various problems such as domestic violence. I believe that if fathers can reduce or quit drinking, it will be beneficial in many ways. If children ask their parents to reduce or quit drinking, it will have a lot of power. At the same time, children can also do it for their fathers. Sometimes, parents don't want much from their children; just the intention to quit drinking makes them happy." said Pharmacist Songkran.

Children are a significant reason that influences fathers to change their behavior. Mr. Kachorn Chutrasungnoen, 54, was once a heavy drinker involved in all sorts of vices: alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling. But now he has changed his behavior solely for his child. He shared that he has a 5-year-old daughter who is articulate and creative, who begs him to quit drinking and smoking. She likely learned this partly from school. Hearing this made him realize he needed to be healthy for his child. Before quitting alcohol, he had been addicted for years but has been sober for about 5 years now, starting with participating in the alcohol abstinence project during Buddhist Lent. This coincided with a good moment in his life when he joined activities to change attitudes and transform his life with the Gender Equality Foundation, which helped him adjust and successfully quit drinking and gambling. In the past, he had issues with domestic violence stemming from alcohol consumption, but after quitting, his life improved significantly. He can now afford what he wants and take care of his family adequately.

"This Father's Day, I want all my friends to do good, quit drinking, quit smoking, and help their wives with household chores. I want to live long with my children, so I must stop engaging in health risk factors. I want to tell my children that I am doing this for them. I will quit gambling and being unfaithful. When my kids come home from school, I will have time to spend with them because if I don't quit, they won't see me. My wife is also very pleased." said Mr. Kachorn.

Similarly, Mr. Wandi Pongsura, a former chronic alcoholic, shared that his wife passed away due to alcohol-related issues, leaving him to raise their daughter alone. Due to his heavy drinking, his daughter had to live with her grandmother instead. He once collapsed and had to be hospitalized for half a month. After that incident, he never touched alcohol again, and now his health is gradually improving. His daughter told him to quit drinking, saying that if he didn't, she couldn't stay with him. Therefore, he quit drinking for her. Now, his daughter expresses joy at seeing him sober and urges all fathers to quit drinking for their children if they want to be with them for a long time. Meanwhile, 10-year-old Miss Nuchwara Pongsura, Mr. Wandi's daughter, shared that she learned from school that alcohol is bad, so she told her father to quit drinking, and he agreed. She is happy that her father has quit drinking so they can be together longer.

The examples above illustrate positive stories of fathers who can change for their children, bringing happiness to their families and society. The benefits of reducing, quitting, or abstaining from alcohol are numerous, including:

1. Family members feel proud.

2. Improved mental health for oneself and family members.

3. Reduced family problems.

4. Stronger physical health and reduced risk of serious illnesses.

5. Increased self-worth.

6. More time to enhance various skills.

7. More time for loved ones.

8. Increased savings or the ability to buy necessary items.

9. Reduced risk of injury to oneself and others from accidents.

10. Being a good example for others.

Indeed, reducing, quitting, or abstaining from alcohol brings only benefits. This Father's Day is a great opportunity for fathers who are still involved with alcohol to consider changing for their children and families. ThaiHealth wishes to encourage all fathers to become MY HERO in their children's hearts once again.

Thank you for the information from www.thaihealth.or.th