Bid to regulate ads for hangover ‘cures’

BANGKOK: -- Plans are underway to regulate advertising for anti-hangover beverages amid concerns they encourage alcohol abuse, the Fund for Boosting Health said yesterday.

The government agency wants to study the impact of the advertisements on drinkers and also to plug a legal loophole that allows beer companies to put their logos on non-alcoholic products, said its director, Dr Supreeda Adulyanon.

Supreeda said there were no authentic studies that showed such anti-hangover beverages effectively cure hangovers.

As hangovers indicate that the body is low in sucrose, the rule of thumb is that hangovers can be cured by eating carbohydrates so that the body receives more sugar, he said.

“Anti-hangover beverages are like tonic beverages available on the market, except that they claim to cure hangovers,” Supreeda said.

“This sort of ad will encourage the public to drink more and give them the false impression that drinking to excess is okay.”

To clear up this misunderstanding, the fund will appoint a working group to study the effect of limiting advertising spots for these beverages.

Alcoholic beverage ads are currently only allowed to be aired between 10pm and 5am.

The working group, headed by Dr Udomsin Sisaengnam, vice-president of the fund, will look to plug a legal loophole that allows alcohol manufacturers to mention their products on air without actually advertising them.

--The Nation 2005-06-01

You'll just have to suffer on George

I used a bottle called "Hang" once its very effective.