Nikhil Kamath targeted by 'Liver Doc' for promoting consumption of alcohol in latest podcast episode
Dr. Philips took to X to pointing out that no safe level of alcohol that is good for human health. "No amount of alcohol is safe because it is not just a liver poison, it is systemic poison. It gets to every part of your body. Even single to lowest exposure can wreck your DNA and promote cancer formation," he said.
Billionaire Nikhil Kamath’s recent podcast 'WTF, Alcohol is a $70B Business in India?’, covered the A to Z of the alcohol business in India. However, it had managed to irk a popular liver specialist Cyriac Abby Philips, known as “The Liver Doc” on social media, who criticised Kamath for glorifying alcohol consumption that can cause strokes, cancer, liver diseases, and even mental health disorders.
Abhishek Khaitan, MD of Radico Khaitan in the podcast said that countries that have banned alcohol have led their economies to shambles. "Drinking alcohol in moderation is very good,” Khaitan said.
Dr. Philips took to X to point out that no safe level of alcohol is good for human health. "No amount of alcohol is safe because it is not just a liver poison, it is systemic poison. It gets to every part of your body. Even single to lowest exposure can wreck your DNA and promote cancer formation," he said.
Speaking about the disclaimer shown throughout the podcast about alcohol consumption being injurious to health, Dr. Philips said, "To claim drinking alcohol in moderation is good, is actually a crime. It is a crime towards humanity, it is not in good faith. It is in good faith to run the business, yes, because the many people who use it occasionally, move on too frequently, and then get dependent or 'routinize' it. These businessmen have nothing to lose - because they have already put up a stupid disclaimer to get away with it - 'drink responsibly’.”
Kamath owns around 1.6-1.7 percent of Radico's stock worth Rs 400 crore. The ‘Liver Doc’ also stated that it's the business people who support drinking alcohol who have the money to afford expensive medical care incase of any diseases caused due to alcohol consumption.
"I treat alcohol use disorder and related acute liver disease, chronic liver failure and acute-on-chronic liver failure (the most devastating of them all with the highest death rate without a timely liver transplantation) on a daily basis," Dr Philips said. "Patients and families struggle to make ends meet for proper healthcare because alcohol use destroys their life savings. And by the time they find the funds to get things going, the patient is already on the ventilator and in multiple organ failure,” he added.
