Govt bans sale of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes to teenagers

BANGKOK: -- The Thai government has announced a nation-wide ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 from 1 December.

The authorities hope that the ban will reduce the chances with which young people can get access to alcoholic drinks and cigarettes.

This, in turn, will help prevent young Thais being exposed to other vices, Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan told TNA after announcing the ban yesterday.

Twelve million Thais smoke, with more than 80 percent of them regular smokers.

More than 90 percent of new smokers are under the age of 18, the minister said.

Smoking is a major cause of several major illnesses, including lung cancer, heart disease and blood disorders.

Drinking is equally harmful to people’s health, Mrs. Sudarat said.

There are more than 70 diseases which are caused by the regular consumption of alcoholic beverages, not to mention road accidents caused by drunk driving, said the minister.

More than 18 million Thais, or one in three people in the country, drink alcohol, worth a total of 150 billion baht a year.

--TNA 2004-11-09

I just wish the government would succeed with these rules.

How will they be going to control them?

It is all smoke and mirrors.

Nothing real there at all!!

Alcohol is still sold at roadside filling stations, any time of day or night.

They obviously haven't told the little Thai shop acrss the road from me. Every night it's full of what look like 14-15year olds drinking Samsong and smoking away.

1st of December DB!!!

Govt to launch crackdown on underage cigarette, alcohol sales

BANGKOK: -- The Ministry of Public Health is to launch a major crackdown on the sale of cigarettes and alcohol to minors on the first of next month, warning that children who repeatedly attempt to make cigarette and alcohol purchases could be sent to training camps.

The crackdown forms part of the government's manifesto pledge to tackle youth issues seriously over the coming four years.

Government figures show that from 2001 to 2003 the number of Thais aged 11 years and above who smoke cigarettes rose from 10.6 million to 12 million.

Figures from 2003 also suggest that 19 million Thais, or one quarter of the population, are regular drinkers.

Medical research indicates that children who begin drinking before the age of 13 have a high tendency to become alcoholics later in life.

Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said yesterday that from 1 December, the government would begin to strictly enforce legislation banning the sale of cigarettes and alcohol to minors, with both vendors and purchasers facing legal action.

Vendors can expect prison sentences of up to three months and fines not exceeding Bt30,000.

The government has also promised to strictly enforce police regulations restricting the sale of alcohol to 11.00-14.00hrs and 17.00-24.00hrs.

The penalty for violation could be as much as two years in prison.

Meanwhile, children under the age of 18 who attempt to purchase cigarettes and alcohol can expect a warning delivered to their parents.

Repeat offenders could be sent to behavioural correction camps, said Mrs. Sudarat.

"I want all the public to understand the importance of this", Mrs. Sudarat told TNA yesterday.

"No-one can claim that they don't know about this any more", she declared.

Within the next two years, the government hopes that all shops selling cigarettes across the country will display stickers indicating their refusal to make sale to under 18's.

--TNA 2004-11-23

I wonder if the police station across the road will stop sending kids over to buy their Lao Chow and Cigs??

Oh, well. Here comes the Western world, complete with it's 'advanced' thought. This type of legislation doesn't work anywhere else in the world so what makes anyone think it'll work in Thailand? You needn't look any further than the premises behind the thinking to know the eventual outcome of the policy. Rotsa ruck!

Training camps = brainwashing.

When Thailand becomes just like the rest of the 'civilized' world I'll be off to the next 'third world' paradise!

Oh, well.  Here comes the Western world, complete with it's 'advanced' thought.  This type of legislation doesn't work anywhere else in the world so what makes anyone think it'll work in Thailand?  You needn't look any further than the premises behind the thinking to know the eventual outcome of the policy.  Rotsa ruck!

Training camps = brainwashing.

When Thailand becomes just like the rest of the 'civilized' world I'll be off to the next 'third world' paradise!

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I hope you will post what 'third world paradise' you land in and tell us the advantages of said country.