Lambanog drinkers in Quezon wary of COVID-19, but ‘tagay’ continues

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines — Drinking sessions with his fellow tricycle drivers are a means to forget their current situation during the COVID-19 pandemic for “Rommel,” 35.

Asked if he was not afraid that he could get the dreaded virus from his fellow drinkers, he replied in jest: “Kapag lasing na, balewala na ang virus. Hindi na tatalab (When you’re drunk, the virus means nothing. It won’t affect you).”

Turning serious, he said they just had to be careful and avoid drinking from one glass, a practice called “tagay” among liquor drinkers here.

Liquor drinking remained high amid the pandemic, according to a recent survey of the Department of Health (DOH), which revealed that 40 percent of Filipino adults turn to alcohol during this time.

“On alcohol use, consumption was high, with four in 10 Filipinos (40.1 percent) reporting that they drank alcohol in the 30 days prior to the survey. Alcohol use was higher in men compared to women, with 51.4 percent of men and 28.9 percent of women reporting current drinking use,” the DOH said in a statement on Tuesday.

Liquor drinkers in Quezon province, which is known for its local gin “lambanog” that is made from the sap of the coconut flower, usually conduct group drinking sessions.

A “tanggero” keeps tabs on the rounds, making sure everyone gets his share of the drink from a common glass and duly finishes it.

The practice of sharing a glass for drinking is a “big no-no,” according to health authorities, as it puts every drinker at high risk of infection from the virus.

Maria Cristina Diasanta-Decal, a Quezon heritage conservationist and promoter of the “tagayan” ritual in the province, said only those who were not careful drinkers were at risk. “If they are responsible drinkers, they wouldn’t use one glass only,” she said in an online interview on Monday.

Eriberto Ricardo Dedace, Decal’s colleague and a tourist guide in Sariaya town, warned that COVID-19 can be quickly spread in drinking sessions, especially when the drinking buddies are already intoxicated enough to forget health protocols.

Part of culture

Sariaya Vice Mayor Alexander Tolentino also feared that transmission of the virus would happen in group drinking.

“Drinking session is part of the culture of menfolk in the province. And it has long been proven that the transmission of the virus usually happens in the group drinking session,” Tolentino said, although he did not provide data to support his claim.

Tolentino noted that when the local government of Sariaya had prohibited the sale of liquor in public places, “our menfolk resorted to buying liquor from outside of the town.”

“We also found out that our local drinkers held the sessions in neighboring Lucena City, Tayabas City and Candelaria town, that all have rising COVID-19 cases,” he added.

“It defeats the purpose of our liquor ban,” Tolentino lamented.

Tolentino is pushing for a unified implementation of liquor ban to help prevent the rise of COVID-19 cases.

Lucena Mayor Roderick Alcala on Monday said he was open to a unified liquor ban but also believed that the transmission of the virus during drinking sessions was “only secondary,” adding that an uneven enforcement of quarantine rules and health protocols were the primary reasons why COVID-19 cases still climbed.

Lucena allows the selling of alcoholic drinks but prohibits drinking in public places.

Tayabas City has no liquor ban at present, according to city administrator Diego Narzabal, but also has a strict rule against public drinking.

In Candelaria town, sale of alcoholic drinks are allowed but drinking in public places, even in private gatherings, are prohibited.

Quezon province, which is under general community quarantine with heightened restrictions until Aug. 31, still has 1,447 active COVID-19 cases as of Monday, the provincial health office said.