Cambodia reiterates prime time alcohol ads ban

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian Ministry of Information on Sunday warned to cancel licenses for any television stations that still broadcast alcohol advertisements during the prime time 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. slot.

"If any television stations still continue to broadcast alcohol advertisements in violation of an October's directive, the Ministry of Information will suspend their broadcast temporarily between two weeks and one month and will completely revoke their television licenses in case of repeated violation," Information Undersecretary of State Huy Saravuth said in a statement on Sunday.

The warning came after the ministry issued a directive in October last year to ban television and radio stations from broadcasting alcohol advertisements during the prime time, but some television stations turned a blind eye to the directive.

The directive said, "From Jan. 1, 2015, all alcohol advertisements will be totally barred from broadcasting on televisions and radios during the prime time between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m."

The Southeast Asian nation has 14 licensed television stations and nearly 200 radio stations.

The ministry said the prohibition is part of the government's efforts to reduce both road traffic fatalities and domestic violence resulting from alcohol drinking.

According to the report of the National Police, 2,148 people died in traffic accidents last year. About 14 percent of the road traffic crashes were the result of drunk driving.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/150111/cambodia-reiterates-prime-time-alcohol-ads-ban