Alcohol, cigarette sellers to check ID card from youths

BANGKOK: -- Shops selling alcoholic drinks and cigarettes nationwide will become more strict and will not sell to youths aged lower than 18.

A law prohibiting sales of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes to youths under 18 years old has been enforced since 2003 but in practice sellers and young buyers do not pay attention to it. The law has been dusted off and concerned officials begin to take action again since June 24 this year.

Today, senior officials of the Justice Ministry’s Youth Observation and Protection Department signed an agreement with representatives of convenience stores, gas stations and department stores requiring them to check for ID cards from buyers suspected to be lower than 18 years old.

Shop owners found to have violating the law will face a maximum three-month imprisonment and fines of 30,000 baht.

According to statistics released by the Department, 38% of drunk youths would commit crimes, including sexual assaults, during drinking or not more than five hours before started drinking while another 10% would commit crimes so that they would have money to buy drinks.

The statistics also show that male youths aged between 11 – 19 or about 21.23%, equivalent to 1.06 million, of this age group are regular drinkers and the number is expected to rise

--TNA 2005-07-18

I doubt it'll change anything for all the small mom & pop neighorhood stores, especially in the smaller upcountry towns and villages.

The statistics also show that male youths aged between 11 – 19 or about 21.23%, equivalent to 1.06 million, of this age group are regular drinkers and the number is expected to rise

--TNA 2005-07-18

What statistics? Maybe 98% of the 21.23% are 18 yr olds

According to statistics released by the Department, 38% of drunk youths would commit crimes, including sexual assaults, during drinking or not more than five hours before started drinking while another 10% would commit crimes so that they would have money to buy drinks.

Yeah, you have to get a few years on ya, before all the beer makes you wanna do is watch the paint dry.