Cabinet green lights bills to modify alcohol control law

[webfact]

 

The Cabinet has given initial approval to five proposed bills aiming to modify the current alcohol control law, a move that could potentially lead to extended selling hours and more relaxed advertising rules. This decision has, however, sparked controversy among anti-alcohol advocates.

 

The legislation was introduced for its first reading in the House on Wednesday, March 27, and received a majority approval, with 389 voting in favour, nine against, and two abstentions. As a result, a special House committee was formed to review the bills before they proceed to their second and third readings.

 

This special committee comprises 42 members, including seven cabinet ministers, 14 representatives of eligible voters, and representatives from various political parties. The bills were initially proposed by Thiraphat Khanawong and Charoen Charoenchai, eligible voters; Taopipho Limjittrakorn, a Move Forward Party MP from Bangkok; Chanin Rungtanakiat, a Pheu Thai Party list-MP; and the Cabinet. The draft proposed by the Cabinet is likely to serve as the primary version for the House committee’s review.

Meanwhile, a consortium of advocacy groups campaigning for stricter control over alcohol consumption has voiced its concerns to the House through an open letter. The network is concerned about the potential extension of alcohol selling hours and opposes the sale and consumption of alcohol in various places. It also seeks to maintain restrictions on advertising channels and sales promotions.

The open letter was addressed to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and received by Thongchat Rattanawicha, an assistant secretary to Wan, and Chanin. Duangduean Inthanu, representing the anti-alcohol advocacy network, stated that the group sees no necessity for the legislative changes suggested by the bills.

 

Supporters of the bills argue that the proposed changes could stimulate the economy. However, the advocacy network contends that the disadvantages would surpass the benefits of promoting alcoholic beverages, with only alcohol-selling businesses standing to gain.

 

Another representative of the anti-alcohol advocacy network, Santi Chomyong from Ayutthaya, urged the House to prioritise public interest over commercial gains in the face of possible negative impacts of alcohol consumption, reported Bangkok Post.

The government has emphasised the need for a balanced approach, allowing more flexibility in alcohol sales to boost the economy and tourism, while simultaneously safeguarding public health.

 

by Mitch Connor 

Picture courtesy of Sigrun Blix

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-29

 

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[Korat Kiwi]

Well it's a start,  wonder if we will actually see any change in our lifetime. 

 

Like most bureaucracy, there is a lot of talk and much expenditure of money for bugger all result/change. 

 

Current laws regarding hours of sales is quite frankly bizarre. 

[Guderian]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

and more relaxed advertising rules.

 

Wasn't it only a week ago they were going to plaster all cans and bottles of booze with pictures of liver cirrhosis and throat cancer to put people off drinking?

It's like there are two different governments announcing policies here sometimes. Or have the politicians all been hitting the bottle a bit too hard and forgot what yesterday's policies were? lol.

[Bangkok Barry]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Cabinet has given initial approval to five proposed bills aiming to modify the current alcohol control law,

 

And the brilliant reporting from The Thaiger forgets to list exactly what the modifications are, Which makes the entire report pretty pointless. No detail. None at all. Zero. Except giving a irrelevant list of names of those involved.

[alex8912]

Don't these fools ever go to Malaysia or Indonesia which are Muslim countries and see beer and alcohol are available between 2 and 5pm?? Then of course same in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam , Cambodia etc..It's completely silly for a loss of better words. How many times in Paragon or at 7/11 I've had to explain this to people and they are completely baffled! 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The legislation was introduced for its first reading in the House on Wednesday, March 27, and received a majority approval, with 389 voting in favour, nine against, and two abstentions. As a result, a special House committee was formed to review the bills before they proceed to their second and third readings.

And the bills are ?

[Mbolo]

It has taken the gay marriage bill five years to get to where it is now.

Don’t hold your breath about this alcohol bill. 

[dinsdale]

I hope they pass this progrissive bill in full. The "it will be harmful to society" argument is complete and utter nonsence. Question: Does this have to be passed by the senate? 

[Frankie baby]

We need the people who ran the cannabis bill through to get on this case, otherwise were in for another few years of bureaucratic patter.  

[Will B Good]

Can't believe there are only 42 on the committee.....how many on the panel?.....There must be subcommittees as well.

Edited March 29 by Will B Good

[sambum]

"a move that could potentially lead to extended selling hours and more relaxed advertising rules. This decision has, however, sparked controversy among anti-alcohol advocates.

 

Talk about stating the bleeding obvious!

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

And the bills are ?

 

The article was written by a US college dropout. Need I say more. So, someone with no qualifications to be a journalist.

[Cabradelmar]

Hoards of tourist, ply them with alcohol, and provide them with prostitutes and gambling... The PM's government's 3 pillar plan to improve the well-being of the all Thai people and nation. 

[scottiejohn]

53 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

The article was written by a US college dropout. Need I say more. So, someone with no qualifications to be a journalist.

Would you care to elucidate on that comment as many on here do not have your deep insight into the person you are referring to!

 

PS: don't ask/tell me to use google etc!

[Bangkok Barry]

1 minute ago, scottiejohn said:

Would you care to elucidate on that comment as many on here do not have your deep insight into the person you are referring to!

 

PS: don't ask/tell me to use google etc!

 

Certainly.

Step 1 - open the linked article

Step 2 - scroll past the article and Thaiger Talk to the profile of the writer.

 

[picctrainop]

Apart from holidays alcohol is easy to get… Surely people aren’t that desperate to get a drink… Whoever is in charge should be using their time to solve the real problems the Country..,

[scottiejohn]

6 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Certainly.

Step 1 - open the linked article

Step 2 - scroll past the article and Thaiger Talk to the profile of the writer.

 

 

You expect everyone who has had the misfortune to read your two puerile posts to take that action is beyond belief.

It would be beneficial to readers of your comments as to info regarding who is the author and what is the author's background please!

 

[Bangkok Barry]

4 minutes ago, picctrainop said:

Apart from holidays alcohol is easy to get… Surely people aren’t that desperate to get a drink… Whoever is in charge should be using their time to solve the real problems the Country..,

 

It has nothing to do with desperation. It has everything to do with abolishing laws that make no sense and, as you point out, are not enforced anyway.

[moe666]

Drinking alcohol the bane of all do gooders. No matter how hard they try to stop it people will drink

[Bangkok Barry]

1 minute ago, scottiejohn said:

 

You expect everyone who has had the misfortune to read your two puerile posts to take that action is beyond belief.

It would be beneficial to readers of your comments as to info regarding who is the author and what is the author's background please!

 

 

I'm sorry to have been better informed than you, and that by responding to your sarcastic post asking how I knew what I did I might have embarrassed you as a result. It really didn't take me much effort to discover more about the writer, as any reader of this site could do.

I am interested in why The Thaiger employs such abysmal writers, and by a minimum of effort discovered they each have a profile. To actually include in this case that the writer has no formal qualifications to be a journalist I suppose speaks volumes of the standards that The Thaiger has. I would have thought they would hide the fact, not broadcast it.

 

By the way, I'm commenting as a journalist of over 40 years who has written for The Times, Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald and all of the agencies among others, so I think I have an insight into what is good journalism and what is not. Sorry too if my experience in the profession might offend you.

 

[Jake72]

I really hope they get rid of the morning/afternoon ban on alcohol sales, it's so annoying when you go shopping and realize you have to wait 2 hours before you buy a box of beer. I mean I'm not going to start drinking right away, I just want to buy it. Also, why did they ban online alcohol sales? Surely this is not for the health of everyone, but simply to control who can make money on alcohol sales.

[scottiejohn]

11 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

By the way, I'm commenting as a journalist of over 40 years

In which case you should know, given your so called journalistic reporting expertise(?), that you should be as accurate and descriptive as possible which results in leaving little for your readers to question or investigate! 

 

PS;  You have still not explained, in your so called professional journalistic style, who or what this author is! 

As stated above it is not for me or other readers to search out the meanings of obscure posts but for the author to either be clear in the first instance or to clarify when asked.

You have done neither!

Edited March 29 by scottiejohn

[nahkit]

2 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

In which case you should know, given your so called journalistic reporting expertise(?), that you should be as accurate and descriptive as possible which results in leaving little for your readers to question or investigate! 

 

PS;  You have still not explained, in your so called professional journalistic style, who or what this author is! 

As stated above it is not for me or other readers to search out the meanings of obscure posts but for the author to either be clear in the first instance or to clarify when asked.

You have done neither!

Here, I'll help you, as you're obviously incapable of clicking the link and reading it for yourself :-

 

"Mitch is a Bangkok resident, having relocated from Southern California, via Florida in 2022. He studied journalism before dropping out of college to teach English in South America."

[SOTIRIOS]

...Quite Clear By Now....

...Pushing This Poisonous Industry While Quashing Any Alternatives...

..Wouldn't Want The Fatal Car Crashes Or Myriad Acts Of Violence 'Under The Influence' To Decline, Would We...(?)

 

[jesimps]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

 

The Cabinet has given initial approval to five proposed bills aiming to modify the current alcohol control law, a move that could potentially lead to extended selling hours and more relaxed advertising rules. This decision has, however, sparked controversy among anti-alcohol advocates.

 

The legislation was introduced for its first reading in the House on Wednesday, March 27, and received a majority approval, with 389 voting in favour, nine against, and two abstentions. As a result, a special House committee was formed to review the bills before they proceed to their second and third readings.

 

This special committee comprises 42 members, including seven cabinet ministers, 14 representatives of eligible voters, and representatives from various political parties. The bills were initially proposed by Thiraphat Khanawong and Charoen Charoenchai, eligible voters; Taopipho Limjittrakorn, a Move Forward Party MP from Bangkok; Chanin Rungtanakiat, a Pheu Thai Party list-MP; and the Cabinet. The draft proposed by the Cabinet is likely to serve as the primary version for the House committee’s review.

Meanwhile, a consortium of advocacy groups campaigning for stricter control over alcohol consumption has voiced its concerns to the House through an open letter. The network is concerned about the potential extension of alcohol selling hours and opposes the sale and consumption of alcohol in various places. It also seeks to maintain restrictions on advertising channels and sales promotions.

The open letter was addressed to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and received by Thongchat Rattanawicha, an assistant secretary to Wan, and Chanin. Duangduean Inthanu, representing the anti-alcohol advocacy network, stated that the group sees no necessity for the legislative changes suggested by the bills.

 

Supporters of the bills argue that the proposed changes could stimulate the economy. However, the advocacy network contends that the disadvantages would surpass the benefits of promoting alcoholic beverages, with only alcohol-selling businesses standing to gain.

 

Another representative of the anti-alcohol advocacy network, Santi Chomyong from Ayutthaya, urged the House to prioritise public interest over commercial gains in the face of possible negative impacts of alcohol consumption, reported Bangkok Post.

The government has emphasised the need for a balanced approach, allowing more flexibility in alcohol sales to boost the economy and tourism, while simultaneously safeguarding public health.

 

by Mitch Connor 

Picture courtesy of Sigrun Blix

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-29

 

- Discover how Cigna Insurance can protect you with a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment. For more information on expat health insurance click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe
 

The only change that I want them to make is to allow the sale of alcohol early morning so that I can buy my booze at the main supermarket along with the groceries early on. It's really annoying when I know that my favourite tipple is within reach, but I have to settle for something else at my local shop later on. 

[Kalasin Jo]

4 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

It has nothing to do with desperation. It has everything to do with abolishing laws that make no sense and, as you point out, are not enforced anyway.

Except of course and voluntarily by 7/11, Big C, Lotus's, Tops Markets, There having loaded my chariot with alcohol if I get to check out seconds after 2pm according to the checkout till clock. : Sorry, cannot. Now I don't bother as my new local minimart not a 7/11 is very and surprisingly competitively priced. But they don't do any wine. boohoo.

[josephbloggs]

6 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

The article was written by a US college dropout. Need I say more. So, someone with no qualifications to be a journalist.

Yeah, welcome to "The Thaiger". And accompanied by a photo of prostitutes and mongers - what has that got to do with the regulations on alcohol sales?

[josephbloggs]

8 hours ago, alex8912 said:

How many times in Paragon or at 7/11 I've had to explain this to people and they are completely baffled! 

Well done for explaining it to minimum wage workers who are just doing their jobs and have absolutely no influence on the laws. What a joy you must be.

[AhFarangJa]

I remember many moons ago about mid seventies in Scotland they relaxed the opening hours for pubs. The anti brigade said it would lead to more drunks roaming the streets all day. Then the same happened about 10 years later in England, and Wales. If memory serves they found that there were no increases in drunkenness as people did not rush to drink before closing.

[George FmplesdaCosteedback]

14 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Don't these fools ever go to Malaysia or Indonesia which are Muslim countries and see beer and alcohol are available between 2 and 5pm?? Then of course same in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam , Cambodia etc..It's completely silly for a loss of better words. How many times in Paragon or at 7/11 I've had to explain this to people and they are completely baffled! 

You shouldn't take it out on the staff, they just do what they are told. If you want a beer or whatever find a store without an electronic till, or keep some spare in the cupboard.