Tougher Alcohol, Cigarette Laws Planned

[george]

Tougher alcohol, cigarette laws planned

BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry will today ask the Cabinet to enforce even stricter regulations on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes. The new rules will make legal the current decree on liquor sales after midnight and prohibit the sale of cigarettes in educational institutions.

The new ministerial regulations will also prohibit the sale of cigarettes in religious places and venues where tobacco-sales licences were previously revoked, a source at Government House said.

The ministry wants alcohol sales for permit categories 3 and 4, which cover alcoholic drinks manufactured inside and outside the country, restricted from 5pm to midnight instead of 5pm to 2am. Also, liquor licences will not beissued to venues near schools or religious places.

Meanwhile, the National Committee for the Control of Tobacco Use ruled yesterday that the convenience-store chain 7-Eleven had violated the Tobacco Product Control Act 1992 by stacking packets of cigarettes in display cabinets above cash registers.

The cigarettes catch customers’ attention, revealing an intention to advertise, Disease Control Department deputy director-general Dr Narong Methapat said.

The Public Health Ministry has sent two warning letters to CP Seven Eleven Plc but would not send another. Instead, it will consult the Royal Thai Police next week to make arrests in Greater Bangkok and upcountry, Narong said.

If a store admitted to being guilty of breaking the law then it would face a Bt200,000 fine. Refusal to admit guilt would result in legal action. The ministry has been gathering evidence for a court battle, he said.

Narong said public health officials will inspect shops on a regular basis for cigarette displays and report infringements for legal action, adding that for chain stores the lawsuit would be filed against the headquarters and the branch.

Last week, the Council of State ruled that some cigarette displays, such as having packs of the same brand placed in open view to attract people’s attention, could be taken as a form of advertising.

--The Nation 2005-11-08

[womble]

Great, does this mean bars and clubs have to stop serving alcohol at 12. Fantastic! So after i've finished my dinner I won't be able to have a few drinks by the bar.

Another step forward for the tourist industy!

[gharknes]

that is the most rediculous stupid thing i have read yet, are there people in government in thailand that just sit all day dreaming up ideas because they have nothing better to do, why don't they make everybody go to bed at 10pm and order a spanking if you break the rules, seemss like there are a crowd of very silly people trying to do very important responsible work, it's like something an 8 year old would come up with

unbelievable

[marquess]

that is the most rediculous stupid thing i have read yet, are there people in government in thailand that just sit all day dreaming up ideas because they have nothing better to do, why don't they make everybody go to bed at 10pm and order a spanking if you break the rules, seemss like there are a crowd of very silly people trying to do very important responsible work, it's like something an 8 year old would come up with

unbelievable

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well it will get worst before it gets better. I wonder if any laws are every debated here, or is it just by decree of the "wise"?

Edited November 7, 2005 by marquess

[cclub75]

Another proof that the current governement think "chinese" instead of "thai way".

Behind all this non sense (fight against night venues, alcohool, tobacco, "unproper websites", the moral issues, and all the related crackdowns etc.) we can see the good old communist-autoritarian hysteria, cocked in an asian sauce (China, Vietnam for instance) : the people is not allowed to have joy, only the elite can.

They don't like the idea that people can enjoy themselves, have pleasure.

Pleasure is wrong.

And if we go a little bit further, there is a political agenda : control.

In a country like China, after all, it makes sense (the CCP "rules" the country). But in Thailand, it goes against the traditions.

[terdsak_12]

that is the most rediculous stupid thing i have read yet, are there people in government in thailand that just sit all day dreaming up ideas because they have nothing better to do, why don't they make everybody go to bed at 10pm and order a spanking if you break the rules, seemss like there are a crowd of very silly people trying to do very important responsible work, it's like something an 8 year old would come up with

unbelievable

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Obviously you haven't been here long!!!!

[PeaceBlondie]

Instead of passing laws that restrict sales at certain hours, Thailand should increase the liquor TAX by ten baht per drink, of which two baht would have to go to law enforcement. If that doesn't curb drunken driving, absenteeism due to drunkeness, public welfare doles due to drunkeness, drunk Cabinet members, etc., make it forty baht per drink.

[Maejo Man]

When the rest of the world has extended licencing hours, some to 24 hrs a day, the incidence of drunken behaviour is a lot less. I wonder why Thailand is going in the other direction to slove the problem?

[Trebor]

Maybe they mean the sale of alcohol in shops not bars?

[britmaveric]

Dunno - pretty much find drink 24/7. I don't see what the fuss is about.

[ThaiPauly]

The Alcohol bit will really P1ss The Gentleman Scamp off after the thread he started today

[Foggy Bottom]

It is a refined method of US Prohibition

Where America got it wrong was to do a blanket ban that allowed the rise of organised crime

Here, crime is already organised and the Dons are in government, hence they're controlling who, when, and where the products they control can be sold

Charoen Pokhand is on the outside of the ruling "families", thus this is the first major shot at CP (7-eleven) from the Chinese Triad within the cabinet, as they've previously been regarded as too big to take on directly.

Can guarantee the drink laws for "resident's bars" within major hotels will be more lenient - as they're mostly controlled by the Chinese Cartel that's infiltrated Thailand over the last two centuries.

Maybe Chulalongkorn & Co had it right when they ordered the draconian restrictions on Chinese immigrants just over a century ago?

[chuckygobyebye]

Great, does this mean bars and clubs have to stop serving alcohol at 12.  Fantastic!  So  after i've finished my dinner I won't be able to have a few drinks by the bar.

Another step forward for the tourist industy!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dude, bars and clubs have been closing at 12 for ages.

[britmaveric]

Great, does this mean bars and clubs have to stop serving alcohol at 12.  Fantastic!  So  after i've finished my dinner I won't be able to have a few drinks by the bar.

Another step forward for the tourist industy!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dude, bars and clubs have been closing at 12 for ages.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Some close at 12AM would be a better statement.

[Greer]

Well Chucky, I'm not sure what bars you go to...whenever I come home to Bangkok I go out with my wife till 1am at most bars and 2am at a couple that I know of. I was home a couple of weeks ago...

The controls on the sale of these products is surely relegated to shops, presumably to help prevent underage purchases (well that could be one reason - although I take the point raised re triads). As the regulation wants to enforce control between 5pm and midnight, that would mean that Wombles worries are in fact completely wrong - he just has to wait till after midnight for his after dinner drink - as long as it's before 1am or maybe 2am...

Sorry Blondie - the Ministers don't pay for their drinks anyway...we do!

[RickFarang]

More conservatives telling the masses how to live their lives.

[womble]

I reckon this is aimed at 7/11 too. They won't adhere to the cigarette display ban, so now the government will get them with booze and fags their biggest profit makers. If they can't stop them advertising then they'll stop them selling

The scaryiest thing is they dream up these law changes in a matter of hours. In most countries laws take months.

[mas]

There are plenty of places that stay open to 6AM anyway. I met one of the miniters sins at one place last week. Kinda ironic!

Well Chucky, I'm not sure what bars you go to...whenever I come home to Bangkok I go out with my wife till 1am at most bars and 2am at a couple that I know of. I was home a couple of weeks ago...

The controls on the sale of these products is surely relegated to shops, presumably to help prevent underage purchases (well that could be one reason - although I take the point raised re triads). As the regulation wants to enforce control between 5pm and midnight, that would mean that Wombles worries are in fact completely wrong - he just has to wait till after midnight for his after dinner drink - as long as it's before 1am or maybe 2am... 

Sorry Blondie - the Ministers don't pay for their drinks anyway...we do!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[John K]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=49101, just another big question on why did they do that?

[cdnvic]

had it right when they ordered the draconian restrictions on Chinese immigrants just over a century ago?

Yeah the way the Chinese go around from country to country opening up businesses and making education a priority is a real drain on the economy.

cv

[Orion76]

Seriously guys... how long would this law actually be enforced IF it would be passed? Sure will be a great money maker for the boys in brown

Nothing to worry about IMO.

[bcsscott]

that is the most rediculous stupid thing i have read yet, are there people in government in thailand that just sit all day dreaming up ideas because they have nothing better to do, why don't they make everybody go to bed at 10pm and order a spanking if you break the rules, seemss like there are a crowd of very silly people trying to do very important responsible work, it's like something an 8 year old would come up with

unbelievable

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Obviously you haven't been here long!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

His comment above is right on the mark!! Sounds like you have been here too long if you don't see that.

What kind of idiots come up with the latest laws for the sale of alcohol only between 11 and 2 then from 5 to 2.??? This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of and something a ten year old would say it doesn't make any sense at all.

And of coarse there’s the latest 400% tax increase on alcohol, and that's going to stop people from drinking? Hiding the cigarettes under the counter where the cashier has to fumble around under there because the non smoking customer/kid is so moved by that rack of smokes there poking him in the face that is causes him to break down and buy that first pack??? What a joke!!

It seems the trend for this socialist government is to dictate and control and decide what is right for you. I would rather have the choice myself. It is just the beginning. The black market is just around the corner if this keeps up.

Edited November 8, 2005 by bcsscott

[sabaijai]

Charoen Pokhand is on the outside of the ruling "families", thus this is the first major shot at CP (7-eleven) from the Chinese Triad within the cabinet, as they've previously been regarded as too big to take on directly.

The CEO of CP, Sunthorn Arunanondchai, is one of the most influential TRT supporters in Thailand, and a personal friend of the PM's. Just this morning he introduced the PM during the opening of the annual World Presidents Organisation meeting at the Peninsula Hotel. So I doubt CP has anything to fear as long as TRT is in power.

[DrBooze]

Charoen Pokhand is on the outside of the ruling "families", thus this is the first major shot at CP (7-eleven) from the Chinese Triad within the cabinet, as they've previously been regarded as too big to take on directly.

Can guarantee the drink laws for "resident's bars" within major hotels will be more lenient - as they're mostly controlled by the Chinese Cartel that's infiltrated Thailand over the last two centuries.

Maybe Chulalongkorn & Co had it right when they ordered the draconian restrictions on Chinese immigrants just over a century ago?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Really? How about forcing Falangs to change their name to Somchit or so forth?

These racial conspiracy theories are overplayed and unhelpful. Over the generations, Thai Chinese families have been playing the same games as the Thais in politics. Admittedly, Thaksin's clique has been particularly successful in the past 10 years. Does Thaksin have any loyalty to Chinese people beyond his own circle of school friends and his own immediate self interest? I doubt it.

True, there is an unhealthily close relationship between politics and business in Thailand. And maybe, getting a dig at CP was like killing two birds with one stone. But as for CP, founder Dhanin's got more than a few connections to the red Republic himself.

Edited November 8, 2005 by DrBooze

[kosalija]

In Slovenia we can buy alcohol in shop to 9p.m. but we can drink in bars and restaurant. Meby they want to do like this. But it is no problem buy alcohol b 4 9p.m. So we no have problems with this. If you want to get drunk it is no problem

[Upcountry]

One problem with this - it reminds me of leaving New Years parties.

The drunks may leave the bars earlier.

[RDN]

Tougher alcohol, cigarette laws planned

BANGKOK: -- The Finance Ministry will today ask the Cabinet to enforce even stricter regulations on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And what does the Tourism Ministry say about this?

[bartender100]

I'm unfortunatly stuck in th UK at the moment,but from next week,I think it is,my local has a licence to stay open 24 hours.

Even the Weatherspoon chain is going to be open till 1am at the weekend,could kill the nightclubs in the UK.

But after saying that, I'd still sooner be in Pattaya,even if it closed at 9 o'clock!!!!

[Canadianvisitor]

I'm unfortunatly stuck in th UK at the moment,but from next week,I think it is,my local has a licence to stay open 24 hours.

Even the Weatherspoon chain is going to be open till 1am at the weekend,could kill the nightclubs in the UK.

But after saying that, I'd still sooner be in Pattaya,even if it closed at 9 o'clock!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I believe that any effort to reduce smoking especially among young people is a good idea.

I also believe I'll have another drink!

The smoking of tobacco is going the way of the horse drawn buggy, and the young must be educated any way possible that it is wrong.

Drinking on the other hand doesn't cause cancer, so therefore by attrition, is better than smoking.

So, ban smoking and encourage drinking!

What about the Premiership games that are on after 12pm?

[Joey Boy]

What about the Premiership games that are on after 12pm?

What about them?? Television is gettin banned after 12pm also