Cabinet approves total ban on TV smoking and drinking

BANGKOK: -- The Thai cabinet has approved in principle a 24-hour ban for drinking and smoking shown on television screens, Deputy Government Spokesperson Danuporn Punnakan said Tuesday.

According to the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, showing cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption on TV, whether as images or sound, is now totally prohibited, he said.

The decision effectively stops all advertisoing for alcohol and tobacco products on television.

Smoking and drinking on TV has a strong influence on the general public, especially children, the spokesman explained, who tend to easily develop positive attitudes and values towards the two kinds of

behaviours shown on TV, and eventually form their own smoking and drinking habits.

The cabinet, therefore, approved the ban for 24 hours, not only on prime time as presently applied.

In addition, Mr. Danuporn said, the cabinet also approved a proposal that TV programmes shown between 4pm-8pm be made appropriate for children to watch.

Television programmes shown during this period of time should have content that can develop children's intellectual capacity and help promote family and other constructive social values, as well as national wisdom.

--TNA 2006-02-14

Saudi Arabia.

And tomorrow ?

The tchador maybe...

The ban on advertising cigarettes was introduced in many western countries years ago - it is not special to Thailand - extending that to banning alcohol advertising on TV is probably logical - I don't smoke, but I do drink beer, wine and the occassional "black coke" etc - but it's no big deal to me if the advertising is gone from the small screen.

As for the move to make television between 4pm and 8pm more appropriate for children, I support that - it is like that in Australia and the UK, and I guess other western countries anyway - hopefully it will put a stop to that disgusting habit local broadcasters have of showing corpses during the early news - a practice that Australian broadcasters themselves voluntarily banned some years ago - it is completely uneccessary and must be incredibly upsetting to relatives of the deceased.

A 4pm to 8pm family viewing period is not going to hurt at all - good on the government for this move - maybe a positive side effect - they might just move all those crap soapies to a later slot! (There is absolutely no hope that they would scrap them altogether though... )

Edited February 14, 200620 yr by Greer

Cabinet approves total ban on TV smoking and drinking

You had me a bit worried there, George. I thought Taksin was expecting me to stop drinking

Media advertising makes little difference to consumption of legal poisons, but it does lead the way in brand differentiation.

Point of sale promotions will always dictate product consumption. The consumer generally decides with their pocket. As long as the products remain on sale (legal or not) the present market price ( and point of sale promotions) will dictate popularity.

Edited February 14, 200620 yr by khall64au

Bangkok Herald-Examiner

The SET revealed today that Pixilated Images, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Shin Corporation, had it’s per share value increased by 300% over the past 30 days due to changes in the rules regarding alcohol and tobacco on television. As the sole company responsible for the pixilation of these images, it is estimated that because of the new rules, their staff will see a 200-fold increase in staffing to keep up with the heavy load. While the hiring and training of the staff is taking place, CEO of Pixilated Images, Ltd Imanother Shinawatra said that to put into effect the Public Health Ministry regulations, his company would simply pixilate the entire television screen whenever someone was smoking or drinking or if there are any depictions of these vices anywhere on the screen, in the background or foreground.

More and more of the movies I've rented recently have the moment when a smoker puts the cigarette to their mouth fuzzed out, same with holding a gun to someone's head. The moment the cigarette or gun is removed from the mouth/head the fuzzing disappears. You don't have to be a mastermind winner to know what's going on, the before and after scenes make it obvious. Is this type of censorship really going to work, or just spoil the enjoyment of the movie?

I don't care about the ban on tv, tabacco and booze will remain available for the time being.

Maybe UBC will be a looser from it as more viewers might switch to satelite as I did last year.

The winner is: mr. t again

Bangkok Herald-Examiner

The SET revealed today that Pixilated Images, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Shin Corporation, had it’s per share value increased by 300% over the past 30 days due to changes in the rules regarding alcohol and tobacco on television. As the sole company responsible for the pixilation of these images, it is estimated that because of the new rules, their staff will see a 200-fold increase in staffing to keep up with the heavy load. While the hiring and training of the staff is taking place, CEO of Pixilated Images, Ltd Imanother Shinawatra said that to put into effect the Public Health Ministry regulations, his company would simply pixilate the entire television screen whenever someone was smoking or drinking or if there are any depictions of these vices anywhere on the screen, in the background or foreground.

Dear Bangkok Herald-Examiner

Will this apply to movies too?

Bangkok Herald-Examiner

Upon receipt of an inquiry from Thaivisa, our reporters questioned Pixilated Images, Ltd. CEO Imanother Shinawatra about which media the restriction would apply to. His response was, "Any media that our family.....errrr, I mean our company can control..... errrr, I mean pixilate, will be good for the country."

I don't mind the pixelation, I find it quite helpfull as when I take a drink my wife is not quite sure what I am doing. Although, I have sent a letter off requesting further pixelation of the ambient smoke as I am puffing on my fag as it kinda gives me away.

Do you think pixelating my ciggie smoke makes it any healthier? can I smoke around my newborn if it is pixelated?

Another muddy decision.

By all means ban advertising, but it really does ruin the programme when

they start blurring parts of the image, in a very amateur way.

I don't care about the ban on tv, tabacco and booze will remain available for the time being.

Maybe UBC will be a looser from it as more viewers might switch to satelite as I did last year.

The winner is: mr. t again

Are you trying to say that if you can't see someone smoking or drinking on TV you won't watch it?

The ban helps established brands against newcomers.

The ban helps established brands against newcomers.

The highly recommended Beer Lao and the returning Carlsberg ! !

They pixelate the Simpsons as well! Don't show a drawing of someone smoking - but you can see an actual child's corpse getting recovered from a river.

how are they going to stop transvestites smoking and drinking??