Fake Ukrainian health guide sparks outrage over alcohol for children
Fake Ukrainian health guide sparks outrage over alcohol for children
Fact-Checking Fakes in Partnership with Meta
Fake Ukrainian health guide sparks outrage over alcohol for children
A photo allegedly showing an informational stand in a Kyiv polyclinic—complete with the logo of Ukraine's Ministry of Health—has been circulating online. The display features a "guide" recommending alcohol doses to warm up children: up to 50 ml of vodka, 150 ml of wine, or 200 ml of mulled wine. The image is accompanied by claims that Ukrainian authorities are "poisoning children with alcohol."
However, this photo is a fake. It was either generated or edited using AI. The Ministry of Health's actual position is the opposite: alcohol does not warm the body and is dangerous.
An analysis by the Hive Moderation service indicated that the image was likely created or altered with artificial intelligence.
Ukraine's Ministry of Health has an official stance on alcohol's effectiveness for warming up—and its conclusion directly contradicts the so-called "guide."
The ministry warns that using alcohol to stay warm is hazardous. Alcoholic beverages do not actually warm the body; they only create a false sensation of heat. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, causing blood to rush to the skin's surface and accelerating heat loss. At the same time, it dulls natural reactions and the perception of cold, so a person may fail to notice a critical drop in body temperature. This leads to rapid hypothermia, which the body cannot detect in time.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health states that there is no safe dose of alcohol.
Earlier, we debunked other common myths about staying warm in cold weather.
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