New Regulations To Tackle Soaring Alcohol Sales To Underage Drinkers

[george]

New regulations to tackle soaring alcohol sales to underage drinkers

BANGKOK: -- Following news reports of soaring alcohol sales to youths, the Public Health Ministry will propose a ban on the sale of cocktail smoothies near schools and colleges to the July 25 meeting of the National Alcohol Policy Committee (NAPC), a senior official said yesterday.

Two or three tougher regulations under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act 2008 will first be tabled at the Committee on Alcohol Consumption Control's July 2 meeting before the report is submitted to the NAPC meeting chaired by Deputy PM Sanan Kachornprasart, said Dr Saman Futrakul, director of Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption Control.

Cocktail smoothies ban

The new regulations were aimed at preventing youths from getting their hands on popular alcoholic beverages that target young consumers, said Saman. Under them, anyone found illegally selling alcoholic smoothies close to educational institutions would face up to six months in jail and/or a Bt10,000 fine.

"The ministry will ban alcoholic smoothies at all restaurants, mobile stalls and especially shops close to schools, universities and tourist areas such as Khaosan Road. However, vendors in tourist areas would be exempted if they had a licence to sell alcohol," he said.

Saman added that under Article 17 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, shops selling alcoholic smoothies around schools were already liable to fines of Bt500 (for domestic booze) and Bt2,000 (for imported drink).

Warning labels

Article 28 of the Act bans the sale of alcohol to any person under 20, with penalties of up to one year in prison and/or a Bt20,000 fine for offenders.

The new regulations will also get tough on alcohol packaging as the Act requires alcoholic drinks to carry a warning image occupying at least 50 per cent of the overall label space. Violators risked one year in jail and/or Bt100,000 in fine, said Saman.

-- The Nation 2009-06-25

[tigerbalm]

Saman added that under Article 17 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, shops selling alcoholic smoothies around schools were already liable to fines of Bt500 (for domestic booze) and Bt2,000 (for imported drink).

One price for Thai and one price for farang... typical

May be they in the case for the farang fine can show their driving license and pay the same as the Thai fine

[Garry]

I feel that would be a tough rule to enforce; considering how almost freely available is the old rice whiskey in water bottles for next to nothing in price.

[SurfRider]

"Article 28 of the Act bans the sale of alcohol to any person under 20, with penalties of up to one year in prison and/or a Bt20,000 fine for offenders."

Does this mean that they'll finally be able to do away with the ridiculous ban on alcohol sales from 2:00pm to 5:00pm everyday?

I was told that it was passed by one of the several since defunct governing bodies in response to the King commenting "something ought to be done about teenage drinking"

Since there have always been laws in effect to restrict alcohol sales to minors, I've never been able to understand why a cashier at Tesco can't be permitted to decide the difference between a retired Farang and a 12 year old Thai school boy attempting to buy a beer . . . . . . [ TiT ]

.

[webfact]

blah blah blah - the same procedure as every year - blah blah blah....

EDUCATION is the cure - not prison!

[Bagwan]

blah blah blah - the same procedure as every year - blah blah blah....

EDUCATION is the cure - not prison!

I assume that you mean for politicians and civil servants.

[webfact]

blah blah blah - the same procedure as every year - blah blah blah....

EDUCATION is the cure - not prison!

I assume that you mean for politicians and civil servants.

[Thunder26]

As someone who've been here for several years know that any law is not taken seriously. I pass daily near Technical University (Western Bangkok). 50 m away from the main gates there are a number of bar-restaurants down the road with students under 20 drinking beer in a full daylight, after 2 pm especially. Who cares about laws? No one! They are just there, formality written in a bunch of papers...

[SurfRider]

"students under 20 drinking beer in a full daylight, after 2 pm especially. Who cares about laws? No one! They are just there, formality written in a bunch of papers..."

You can test your theory by attempting to buy beer or wine at Big-C, Carrefour, Tesco, etc. etc. any day from 2pm to 5pm

LOTSA LUCK! --- hope you report back with your results . . .

.

[webfact]

"students under 20 drinking beer in a full daylight, after 2 pm especially. Who cares about laws? No one! They are just there, formality written in a bunch of papers..."

You can test your theory by attempting to buy beer or wine at Big-C, Carrefour, Tesco, etc. etc. any day from 2pm to 5pm

LOTSA LUCK! --- hope you report back with your results . . .

.

thats true. As far as I remember you can't buy a single can of beer at these super malls but 10 or 20 cans are allowed....

[zombie]

Regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages at hypermarkets:I have found them to be strict.Some of the smaller places with fewer customers around may not be

as fussy if you want to buy something expensive,like wine.

As far as buying 10 or 20 cans,the notices explicitly state that purchases of 10 litres or more are allowed at any time,but that'll be about a case and a half or so.