Alcoholie fruit drink vendors targeted

BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul promised yesterday to crack down on the illegal practice of selling spirits disguised as fruit juices and soft drinks to teenagers.

Kerbside vendors catering to a teenage clientele at popular entertainment zones routinely peddle alcohol in the guise of juices and fizzy drinks, allowing underage patrons to mix their beverages with lashings of alcohol.

“We have already alerted relevant authorities to this practice, which is dangerous because most parents will think their children only drink juices and soft drinks,” Suchai said.

The minister was speaking to the press at Suan Kaew Temple in Nonthaburi during the launch of a campaign promoting abstinence during Buddhist Lent, which starts Friday and will last until October 18.

The temple’s abbot, Phra Ratchathammanites, said the government should consider enticing people to the official “Abstinence from Alcohol during Buddhist Lent” programme by rewarding them. “We need to stop or at least considerably reduce the consumption of alcohol because it leads to numerous social problems,” the abbot said.

Suchai said Thais spend an estimated Bt150 billion on alcoholic drinks annually. Statistics show, he explained, that over the past seven years there has been an almost six-fold increase in the number of teenage girls regularly consuming alcohol.

He added that according to a survey conducted in 2003, some 18 million people drink heavily. Some children as young as 11 are known to hit the bottle. “The number of drinkers has been increasing in all age groups, but especially among teenagers,” the health minister said.

Suchai said that the excessive consumption of alcohol was responsible for 45 per cent of hospitalisations at government hospitals across the country. More than a third of sexual abuses are fuelled by alcohol as well, he added.

During the press conference yesterday, participants used beer and liquors as fuel for large candles at the temple.

--The Nation 2005-07-14

Coming next - Crackdown on weed selling flower vendors!

Crack ups ... crack downs ... T i T

Alcoholie fruit drink vendors targeted

During the press conference yesterday, participants used beer and liquors as fuel for large candles at the temple.

--The Nation 2005-07-14

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Beer burns? Factual reporting as usual, from the Nation.

I was at lunch with a client in Shanghai last week and she asked me what flavoured juice would I like.

"Hop flavoured", I said!

It's good someone is saying something. Before actions that change thoughts must appear first.

Alcoholie fruit drink vendors targeted

BANGKOK: -- Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul promised yesterday to crack down on the illegal practice of selling spirits disguised as fruit juices and soft drinks to teenagers.

--The Nation 2005-07-14

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well go on, Mr. Suchai Charoenratanakul book em.... and show no favours.