A local beer brand sponsors a popular stage show in Yangon.

STROLLING along Yangon’s busy streets on a warm evening you might feel like taking refuge in a cool place and having a chilled drink and ahead you spy a sign which stands out like a lighthouse in rough weather, it reads “Draught Beer”.

There are many pubs – or ‘beer stations’ – throughout the towns and cities of Myanmar.

In Yangon, a swathe of beer stations have opened in the last five years and are fast becoming gathering places for friends to meet, talk and of course, watch the football.

Ko Htoo Aung, a beer-drinker, said beer stations were becoming more and more popular among young people.
“Now beer is cheaper especially for draught beer and is available anywhere. When I meet with friends during the evening, we prefer to go to beer stations rather than teashops,” he said.

Ko Htoo Aung explained why he prefers draught beer (which is poured from a keg into a mug) over canned or bottled beer.

“Draught beer is fresher, smoother and cheaper,” he said.

“We prefer to go to pubs where draught beer is available. But I don't like going to pubs with stage shows with really loud music. I prefer places where we can talk and drink quietly.”

Beer stations try to win over the market by adding entertainment, like stage shows and live football matches on big screen TVs, both of which have become common sights. One beer station owner said the busiest time for his shop was during popular football matches on TV over the weekends.

“As a beer station, we have to add some entertainment for our customers. Most people like to watch football while drinking beer so they can shout, quarrel and cheer for their favourite teams with their friends. It is an experience they can never get at most of their homes,” the owner said.

Ko Htoo Aung said he preferred to watch live football matches at beer stations, even though he had installed satellite TV at home.

“At home, I have to watch alone but at beer stations, I can talk and discuss the matches with friends. But I never drink too much and do not drink everyday,” he said.

Ko Htoo Aung said he usually drinks no more than four pints whenever he goes out.

But the owner of the shop said most regular customers to his shop can drink at least six pints of draught beer and some can drink even more than that.
A local doctor has warned that drinking alcohol can have serious health problems.

Dr Myint Oo said he saw many people at beer stations.

“Normally beer has a low alcohol percentage. So moderate drinkers can get good benefits for their health and live longer lives than those who never drink or who drink too much,” he said.

“Drinking beer can prevent some diseases. And beer is called as liquid bread as the yeast that is used to brew beer contains many vitamins.”

The news is not all good though, heavy alcohol drinkers can damage their livers, which is some cases can lead to cancer.

“Moderate means one to four pints of beer a day, more precisely 155 to 280 grams of alcohol per week,” Dr Myint Oo said but added, “young men should drink less than that.”

“Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, and vomiting is a particularly visible result. Heavy drinking can lead to stomach problems and ulcers. Moreover, excessive drinkers of beer can get some other diseases related to drinking and increase their risk of getting diabetes,” he said.

Another bad effect from drinking too much beer is the dreaded pot belly – often referred to as a “beer gut”.