Anti-booze Campaigners Sign Up Surayud

[george]

Cabinet approves alcohol consumption control bill

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet Tuesday approved a bill to control alcohol consumption and prohibit advertisement of alcoholic drinks.

Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said the bill would provide comprehensive control of alcohol consumption.

Among other things, it would prohibit the sale of alcoholic drinks to people under 20 years old.

It would also set zoning for alcoholic drinks sale and consumption, he said, adding that the sale would be prohibited near temples and schools.

The bill would be submitted to the National Legislative Assembly for deliberation soon.

-- The Nation 2007-03-13

Anti-booze campaigners sign up Surayud

BANGKOK: -- Campaigners trying to reduce the availability of alcohol in Thailand - through restrictions on sales and advertising - have enlisted a high-profile supporter.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has added his name to a rapidly growing petition, which lists people who back the alcohol control bill.

The bill faces opposition from businesses, especially over plans to totally ban alcohol advertising. If passed, the legislation will ban alcohol sales to people under-20 and sales near religious sites and educational institutes.

The anti-alcohol network of 246 organisations is gathering signatures in support of the bill, due to go to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) this month.

Caravans in support of the bill are converging on the capital from four directions and have collected around 4 million signatures along the way with the help of www.stopdrink.com and numerous health clinics. Teenage anti-booze campaigner Kan-anek Thanapornditsanand invited the premier to pledge his support.

"I'm very glad that he accepted. It shows that he gives importance to the issue and wants to keep alcohol away from young people," Kan-anek said.

Campaign coordinator Khamron Chudecha said the caravans were expected to collect more than 8 million signatures before they arrive at Sanam Luang this Sunday, where they will be joined by Bangkok joggers and more than 50,000 supporters.

The signatures will be presented to the prime minister and NLA Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan.

The movement aimed to protect the young and the vulnerable from problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption, Khamron said.

--The Nation 2007-03-13

[Rincewind]

I believe that efforts should be made to curb underage drinking and discourage alcoholism. However, I wonder if the ones who will be most affected by this will not be the advertising firms, event promoters, and small businesses. It may help some, and I hope it does. Certainly an age limit and zoning requirements are step in the right direction.

However, enforcement is another issue.

Edited March 13, 2007 by Rincewind

[Martin]

From boyhood, I remember being told: "You may get drunk once trying to prove you're a man. But if you get drunk twice you will be definitely proving you are an idiot."

Subsequently, we took pride in drinking all we could hold (when we could afford it) and no more.

But then we had fathers and uncles and such who instilled these things in us.

I don't see much sign of Thai wayward youths being taken to task.

However, that is the only thing that will work. Signing petitions and so forth is just a cop-out way of avoiding taking the responsibility of doing a proper job of helping youths through adolescence.

GreatGrandDad.

[jbsears]

Maybe if they actually enforce this law forbidding sale to minors, they could be rid of the ridiculous law of not being able to sell alcohol between 2 and 5pm. The law was originally put in place to combat underage drinking but if there is enforcement of a law that actually directly combats underage drinking, then there is no need for the 2-5 law that affects all drinkers. To let people know, I'm not a sour drunk. I don't drink, I just can't stand people taking away my right to drink if I would want to.

[swindonabroad]

Totally agree that an age limit should be set. But more importantly is sticking to this and its enforcement. At the same time the "government" could use this as an opprtunity to educate and punish the drink drive culture which personally i find more worrying than seeing beer ads on tv.

Banning advertising will make event and and companies suffer but not tackle the problem, education, rule enfocement, punishments and role models will.

[Al Trego]

Bluudy good idea.

Who needs tourists anyway?

Edited March 13, 2007 by Al Trego

[vanalli]

There goes Bangkok Rock Fest. 2008

[marquess]

The above is virtually beyond comment, as it's stupidity speaks for itself! No need of responsibilty the government will protect you from all ills!

[Maejo Man]

Well that's going to be a bundle of fun for the tourists in their late teens. Will it be enforced though??

[OzMan_Bkk]

A ban on sale of alcohol to anyone under 20. Stiff penalties for anyone buying alcohol on behalf of a minor. Stiff penalties for drink driving. Stiff penalties for being drunk in a public place. The idea is to make excessive drinking socially unacceptable and very expensive if detected.

......and then we hit the wall.....policing. I can see this working the same way as speed limits. We all know the speed limit in Bangkok is B100. What will be cost of underage drinking be I wonder ?

[jberwick]

Sigh, when will people ever stop the highly immoral act of using government force to impose their will on other people?! If you don't want to drink, and don't want your kids to drink, then do it yourself, don't make everyone else conform to your standards, at the threat of force imposed by the government, to do so. Does no one see what is wrong with government, everywhere?!?

Remove all government.

[phuketsub]

Don't worry. It will never be enforced. Only the companies that play by the rules -- the big multinational retailers -- will comply. The result will be more business at mom and pop stores...I don't think will have any impact whatsoever on the young teens in my neighborhood who hang out in front of the Internet cafe, smoking cigarettes drinking beer and screaming until the sun comes up....

Well that's going to be a bundle of fun for the tourists in their late teens. Will it be enforced though??

[Mid]

sigh ..............................

alcohol ain't going anywhere ,

education on responsible behavior rather than Draconian laws is proven to be the way forward ,

<deleted> people , the wheels been invented , it's round ...........................

[Crow Boy]

Cabinet approves alcohol consumption control bill

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet Tuesday approved a bill to control alcohol consumption and prohibit advertisement of alcoholic drinks.

It would also set zoning for alcoholic drinks sale and consumption, he said, adding that the sale would be prohibited near temples and schools.

I can think of a number of bars either directly opposite or near , say within 100metres of a Temple - this is going to be interesting when/if they enforce this act

[GezT]

When will this country catch itself on as to how totally stupid it comes across to the rest of the world with the draconian, pathetic, not to mention stupid, laws and policies it comes out with.

[Foggy Bottom]

This is going to be fun in Chiangmai

With over 300 temples and more than 50 schools, plus countless colleges, language and other "private study" joints inside the superhighway ring alone - just about the only place you'll be able to get a drink will be in Suan Dok hospital or by sitting on the water sprays in the middle of the moat.

Happy Days are here again tra la la lah (sing along)

Hi dee Hi - Hi dee Ho

G

[lazyguy]

oh lord, please let brain fall....

...on the other hand: very amusing!

(standard statement to nearly every posting here)

[jbsears]

I don't really see a problem with the laws. The youth should not drink, so they made a law that will directly affect this. Its not like Thailand is the only place that does this. There are a lot more Draconian laws in the US concerning alcohol. For one example, Texas is full of 'dry' counties. Dallas is almost completely 'dry' except for I believe district 1 (maybe wrong on the district). In Indiana alcohol sales in stores are prohibited on Sundays.

I don't think that these new Thai laws are that severe. If enforced, they may help.

[marquess]

I don't really see a problem with the laws. The youth should not drink, so they made a law that will directly affect this. Its not like Thailand is the only place that does this. There are a lot more Draconian laws in the US concerning alcohol. For one example, Texas is full of 'dry' counties. Dallas is almost completely 'dry' except for I believe district 1 (maybe wrong on the district). In Indiana alcohol sales in stores are prohibited on Sundays.

I don't think that these new Thai laws are that severe. If enforced, they may help.

What about Deep Ellum, Greenville, the West End, great places to drink in Dallas!

[Plus]

One step in educating people is having these laws. It's a lot more difficult to preach to teenagers about dangers of drinking when it remains legal, and they can legally buy alcohol at any time of the day.

I don't know what the effects of these new laws would be, but banning alcohol sales in superstores was very effective. The sales of legitimate booze at legitimate outlets dropped off sharply.

[SamuiJens]

There goes Bangkok Rock Fest. 2008

WHY? The water is great!!

[beammeup]

I don't really see a problem with the laws. The youth should not drink, so they made a law that will directly affect this. Its not like Thailand is the only place that does this. There are a lot more Draconian laws in the US concerning alcohol. For one example, Texas is full of 'dry' counties. Dallas is almost completely 'dry' except for I believe district 1 (maybe wrong on the district). In Indiana alcohol sales in stores are prohibited on Sundays.

I don't think that these new Thai laws are that severe. If enforced, they may help.

I agree where I come from (Ontario Canada) you can only buy booze at the LLCBO A government controled store or the beer store also controled by the Gov. These new measures are a good idea and I hope they are enforced, the roads here are dangerous enough. I dont see why people here hget so worked up about something that will not affect them.

[jbsears]

I don't really see a problem with the laws. The youth should not drink, so they made a law that will directly affect this. Its not like Thailand is the only place that does this. There are a lot more Draconian laws in the US concerning alcohol. For one example, Texas is full of 'dry' counties. Dallas is almost completely 'dry' except for I believe district 1 (maybe wrong on the district). In Indiana alcohol sales in stores are prohibited on Sundays.

I don't think that these new Thai laws are that severe. If enforced, they may help.

What about Deep Ellum, Greenville, the West End, great places to drink in Dallas!

u can drink. a 'dry' county means u can't purchase at a store. it may be changed now, but when i lived there it was a 'dry' city. there are still plenty of bars.

[pattaya_girl]

i say if your old enough to leave home, get married, have sex, and work, then you should be old enough to have a glass of beer.

[tomyamg00ng]

I don't really see a problem with the laws. The youth should not drink, so they made a law that will directly affect this. Its not like Thailand is the only place that does this. There are a lot more Draconian laws in the US concerning alcohol. For one example, Texas is full of 'dry' counties. Dallas is almost completely 'dry' except for I believe district 1 (maybe wrong on the district). In Indiana alcohol sales in stores are prohibited on Sundays.

I don't think that these new Thai laws are that severe. If enforced, they may help.

What about Deep Ellum, Greenville, the West End, great places to drink in Dallas!

u can drink. a 'dry' county means u can't purchase at a store. it may be changed now, but when i lived there it was a 'dry' city. there are still plenty of bars.

And there are still more than plenty of bars in Bangkok despite whatever law they bring in...

[gjones]

some countries learn from other countries past mistakes at least now the sales & shares in yaba (if that is how you spell it) law caw and glue should be good from now on

[fxe1200]

When will this country catch itself on as to how totally stupid it comes across to the rest of the world with the draconian, pathetic, not to mention stupid, laws and policies it comes out with.

As long as driving drunk or without a helmet (Hat Yai), driving through a red light (Hat Yai), speeding with 100Km/h (city limit 60Km/h) in front of a police station(Ratthapum), throwing rubbish onto your neighbors land (Tambon Korhong) is commonplace, there can be zillions of laws and regulations. As long as there is no enforcement whatsoever, the laws are not worth the paper they are written on.

[BlackArtemis]

The age limit isn't such a bad thing, though I doubt it will be enforced upon farang. However Gaz has a point, hel_l there is a Kindergarten school right on Niemmenheiman rd. which is home to Warm Up, Monkey Club and various other successful bar/clubs. Though there needs to be some harsh laws for supplying to minors. We had an incident of 3 6th graders getting trashed off a small bottle of Sangsom... Though, there are a lot more people to blame for that than the 7-11 where the alcohol was bought, but it seems like the new law disagrees...

[QualityTouristNumberOne]

Theres a lot of sense coming up in the answers to this post!,

Nice.

In my own opinion I see no problem endorcing under age drinking laws,

but I do not see any twenty year old as a teenager.

I agree with Pattaya girl,if you're old enough to leave home,

drive a car,have a mortgage and kids,and a responsible job,

you should be able to have a beer.-(slightly off topic here,but connected so bear with me)

I am not anti-any religion,

but this smacks of an alternative agenda to me...

Shariya law 10 years down the road perhaps?.

Maybe a little extreme prediction-wise there,

but it is amazing the Isolationist policies that are being pushed here at the moment,

and it IS starting to affect Thai peoples behaviour,

people who I pass by everyday who I got friendly with,

who used to embarrass me by "Wai'ing" me every time I passed now either openly glare at me,or look at the ground.

I havent changed,or behaved in any way like an "Ugly Farang",

it is this wave of Xenophobia that is being pushed on an otherwise lovely people.

Not good for the future.

[prakhonchai nick]

You can marry at 14, enlist in the armed forces at 18 and die for your country, sell your pussy at 18 but you cannot buy a bloody drink!