In a bid to curtail the spread of alcohol-serving shops for Internet services, relevant authorities are now encouraging entrepreneurs to join their "safe and constructive Internet cafes" project.

This project requires that the participating Internet cafes is equipped with sufficient lighting, strictly prevents access to pornographic or illegal web sites, and totally bans any illegal activities.

"In return, they will receive benefits such as lowcost software," Social Development and Human Security Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham said Thursday.

He was speaking after attending a Safe and Creative Media Committee's meeting.

According to him, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Culture Ministry, Interior Ministry, Education Ministry and Royal Thai Police have jointly launched this project.

"The Internet cafes participating in our project must be in a safe environment, must ban smoking and must not allow anyone younger than 18 years of age to stay in the cafes after 10 pm," Paiboon said.

The government has prohibited youths aged under 18 years old to stay in the Internet cafes after 10 pm, but many have flouted this law. Some of them even sold cigarettes and alcoholic drinks to the underage children.

The Nation

Low cost software from? lol

Sorry, but what a d*ck (can I say that here?)

 Many I cafe around here use linux.  I guess thats low cost enough.  They close at 8pm, serve no drinks have no smoking, but with a room full of games all running at 155db they are far from safe.

That's a new concept - we'll give you a sticker and low cost software (??) if you don't break the law. TIT

Hmmm, I wonder if these safe net cafes are part of the government's new irony is now OK policy?

www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=174