Group seeks stricter control on underage drinking

[webfact]

Group seeks stricter control on underage drinking

By Jessada Chantharak
The Nation

 

 

Anti-alcohol campaigners, including some 30 members of youth networks, called on Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Sutthipong Wongpin to check on shops in Bang Sue district’s Soi Wongsawang 11 that are allegedly selling booze to youths under the age of 20. The shops are believed to be near an educational institution, and hence prohibited from selling alcohol.

 

The group, led by Alcohol Watch coordinator Khamron Chudecha, claimed that it is this illegal sale of alcoholic beverages that contributed to the recent tragic killing of Witcha Noo-udom, 20. The student, who was studying at the College of Industrial Technology at King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, was stabbed to death by one of the 11 drunk male students from another technological college on June 27. The attackers were aged 16 to 17. Khamron said any shops that sell booze to underage persons or sell outside the permitted time should be closed permanently. 

 

 

The group also called on police to punish entertainment establishments that allow patrons under the age of 20 to enter their premises, which is a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act's Article 29 and is punishable with a maximum one-year imprisonment and/or a maximum Bt20,000 fine. They also urged the city police chief to have all city police precincts strictly enforce the law especially on shops selling booze or entertainment establishments that are in the vicinity of educational institutions as underage people may have access to alcoholic drinks. 

 

Superintendent Pol Colonel Somreuk Chaisukanyasant collected the petition on behalf of the city police chief and said he will present it to his superiors accordingly.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30374533

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-09

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[from the home of CC]

Should of been highlighted years ago. This drug has caused more anguish and damage to young people around the world than any other drug yet it is given a pass. New generations of alcoholics will keep the distillers and brewers in the money for years to come.  

[Lungstib]

Expecting kids to wait till 20 before they can buy a drink is very naive. Its a law that will always be broken. If they spent their time campaigning for underage drivers - m'bike riders to be arrested they would actually be saving hundreds of lives. 

[ZeVonderBearz]

If you're old enough to vote and be in the armed forces then you're old enough to drink.

[Bangkok Barry]

18 hours ago, ZeVonderBearz said:

If you're old enough to vote and be in the armed forces then you're old enough to drink.

 

Not if you live in the USA. You can be old enough to die for your country as a soldier and you can even buy a rifle or shotgun at 18. In some states you can buy them at 16, and in one state you can buy a rifle at 14 even without their parent's consent. But you have to be 21 to buy a beer. And we think Thailand is a basket case.

https://metro.co.uk/2018/02/16/age-can-buy-gun-america-7318177/

[drbeach]

It would be very easy to control alcohol sales and ensure it doesn't go into the wrong hands.

 

For starters, heavily restrict who can sell it. Given the Thais have managed to create a law, which bans alcohol sales from midnight to 11am and from 2pm to 5pm (something which doesn't make much sense) one would think they'd be able to come up with a law that says: alcohol can only be sold in a supermarket in a separated section with it's own dedicated cashier. Just like in Australia. Perhaps the opening hours could be changed back to something more reasonable, like say 9am to 10pm. No more alcohol to be sold at 7-11 stores. In Australia, it is illegal to sell alcohol at 7-11s. They don't have a liquor license. Why then are 7-11s in Thailand allowed to sell alcohol? Just revoke their license. Done. Next, lower the drinking age to 18 BUT always ask anyone who appears to be younger than about 25 to show their ID card or driver's license for age verification before a purchase is allowed. How hard can that be? Happens everyday in Australia and the USA.

[Vacuum]

On 8/9/2019 at 9:30 AM, ZeVonderBearz said:

If you're old enough to vote and be in the armed forces then you're old enough to drink.

No you're not. The only reason they can/be forced to join the armed forces is because their brains are not fully developed.

Try learning an old dog to sit, you'll fail.

[jaltsc]

"Anti-alcohol campaigners, including some 30 members of youth networks, called on Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Sutthipong Wongpin to check on shops in Bang Sue district’s Soi Wongsawang 11 that are allegedly selling booze to youths under the age of 20."

 

The police can add that task to their checking for underage motorbike drivers and helmets in front of schools, excess speeding, drunk driving, smoking in public places, etc. How difficult is it to ignore one more of their responsibilities?

 

The only positive that might come about is a better way to learn mathematics: "Yesterday there were 41 students in this class. Somchai and three of his classmates got drunk, piled onto one motorbike, drove too fast, and all of them got killed. How many students are in class today?"

 

Odds are Somchai was the smartest one in the class, and without him to tell the others the correct answer, they will never figure it out by themselves. 

 

Edited August 11, 2019 by jaltsc

[DrTuner]

Ban alcohol. I want the prohibition style speakeasies to make a comeback. Much better crowd with zero teetotalers on a crusade.

[Yinn]

2 hours ago, drbeach said:

It would be very easy to control alcohol sales and ensure it doesn't go into the wrong hands.

 

For starters, heavily restrict who can sell it. Given the Thais have managed to create a law, which bans alcohol sales from midnight to 11am and from 2pm to 5pm (something which doesn't make much sense) one would think they'd be able to come up with a law that says: alcohol can only be sold in a supermarket in a separated section with it's own dedicated cashier. Just like in Australia. Perhaps the opening hours could be changed back to something more reasonable, like say 9am to 10pm. No more alcohol to be sold at 7-11 stores. In Australia, it is illegal to sell alcohol at 7-11s. They don't have a liquor license. Why then are 7-11s in Thailand allowed to sell alcohol? Just revoke their license. Done. Next, lower the drinking age to 18 BUT always ask anyone who appears to be younger than about 25 to show their ID card or driver's license for age verification before a purchase is allowed. How hard can that be? Happens everyday in Australia and the USA.

So you want change all the thailand rule to be Aussie rule? Hours, shop, age.

Hmmmm. 

So no under age drinking in USA or Australia right? Or not?

 

If Thai kid want to drink, your rule will not stop them.

[geoffbezoz]

On 8/9/2019 at 7:57 AM, from the home of CC said:

Should of been highlighted years ago. This drug has caused more anguish and damage to young people around the world than any other drug yet it is given a pass. New generations of alcoholics will keep the distillers and brewers in the money for years to come.  

And of course hypocritical governments unfettered access to a readily taxable product.