Bars And Pubs Near Thai Schools, Universities To Get Tight Control

[webfact]

Taverns near schools/universities to get tight control

BANGKOK, 6 April 2011 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has set a target to regulate pubs and bars mushrooming around educational institutions across the country upon concerns over the rising number of young drinkers.

Speaking at a press briefing, Deputy Public Health Minister Dr Phansiri Kullanartsiri stated that the Ministry of Public Health will cooperate with the ministries of Interior and Education as well as the police in ensuring that sales of alcoholic drinks near educational institutions are strictly under control, in an effort to cut the number of new drinkers.

Dr Phansiri cited a survey by the National Statistical Office in 2007 as showing that 22% of students aged between 15 and 24 were alcohol drinkers while first time drinkers were as young as 17 on the average. Foreign researches indicated that teens who start drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to becom heavy drinkers as adults.

The deputy minister then reported that in the past year the number of new pubs and bars near educational institutes rose by 59%, and many were found near dormitories, which reflected that law was not enforced properly. Traders are using comprehensive strategies to lure drinkers, by for example mixing it with icecream and fruit juice, causing a rise in the number of young drinkers, especially girls.

Dr Phansiri stressed that no new taverns are allowed within the radius of 100 meters and 500 meters from schools and universities respectively while the existing ones must abide by laws. She said entrepreneurs are given six months or until 31 October 2011 to adjust themselves, and law violators will be sternly prosecuted.

-- NNT 2011-04-06

[asiawatcher]

Valid concern especially as many Police own them!

[jimbeam1]

Ensure that alcoholic near educational institutions are under strict control. Hmm that's a good idea.

Students between the ages of 15 to 24, what is the age limit for drinking in Thailand?.

They all carry ID cards. So really it is once again all down to enforcing the law.

jb1

[dunkin2012]

I know it will disappear soon................ Do you know how many of them wearing helmets while ridin' a motor-bike?..... They can't even make most of them wear a helmet 'till now......

[blabla1]

What!!!! the young girls going to these places, are going to get tight control or the place itself ????? i'd say they're tight enough... :lol:

[MarkusRellstab]

Midnight two days ago at 7Eleven: two kids one about 16 the other maybe 18 both could buy alcohol without questions asked. What is the whole fuss about new rules and regulations if no one cares about it and is able to enforce it. Just a farce.

[Colabamumbai]

So I guess I can't sell booze, heroin and ya ba and marijuana near the schools anymore, I have to get the cops to do it for me ? Jeez. Normal for Thailand....Have to pay them.

[petedk]

I think we can all set our calendars by the yearly "crackdowns" or "tighter controls"

We have; "crackdown on speeding", crackdown on drink and driving", and many many more. This crackdown or tighter control has been announced before.

Do they have any effect? We all know the answer is "no".

I went to a really nice restaurant recently at about 8.30 pm and fancied a glass of wine or a beer with the meal but was told they couldn't serve alcohol as they were "within 500 metres of a university". There is a 7/11 about 200 metres away and they don't serve alcohol.

Ok, I work at that university but right next to the main gate (less than 20 metres) there is a little Thai open air restaurant that serves beer and alcohol anytime of day. In the evenings there are many students sitting there drinking beers and Thai whiskey. The law is a complete joke. Why not enforce the ban on sale of alcohol to people under 21 (or whatever age the law says)?

[Beetlejuice]

Valid concern especially as many Police own them!

Right.

And these places are probably staffed by the students themselves.

[TimeBandit2]

When I was a University student in the US (in 2003!) there were bars so close to the classroom where I took one of my last year classes you could practically taste the beer belches. They advertised "A good place to day-drink."

[Phatcharanan]

Valid concern especially as many Police own them!

With your vast knowledge of police in Thailand............you of course KNOW that most of the bars are owned by police.

Yeah........sure.

Knob.

[blabla1]

Politicians have to at least , show (on paper0, that they are doing something constructive, regardless of what really happens, new laws in Thailand, just open doors for corrupt people to benefit from them, the law of the land has nothing to do with how it is upheld and by who, these crack downs will just put pressure on the students( and their families),who are working and paying for their education, because they see a future for themselves,regardless if they sell their P**** or not, to get some where in life....

[reason1]

Solution to problems ban teachers from bars nears schools

[ginjag]

I know it will disappear soon................ Do you know how many of them wearing helmets while ridin' a motor-bike?..... They can't even make most of them wear a helmet 'till now......

All the kids will now have to walk a few hundred meters or wait till they get home and drink( all sat in a ring passing the glass round with one person dishing out the stuff)