MOPH set to push for more concentrated alcohol regulations

BANGKOK, 16 July 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is hastening the alcohol sales ban on school vicinities, aiming to modernize the Alcohol Control Act to cover a wider range of alcoholic beverages, the MOPH Minister says.

The Minister of Public Health Rajata Rajatanavin, along with officials from the related agencies, have observed the dormitories around the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), to screen the sales of alcoholic beverages in the area.

He said that many agencies are now working to solve the problems caused by alcohol consumption by imposing the Alcohol Control Act BE 2551 that forbids the sales of alcohol to persons under 20 years old, forbid the sales of alcohol in certain places such as official agencies, education institutes, dormitories, fuel stations, and transport station. The Act will also restrict alcohol sales to only a certain date and time.

He has revealed that the government is now preparing the Prime Minister’s Office Announcement on the ban of alcohol sales within a 300 meter vicinity around public and private education institutes, to protect the children and the youth from easy access to alcohol.

The MOPH Minister has stressed the Ministry’s role is to enhance a healthy public lifestyle, and solve issues that stem from alcohol consumption including underage sex, drug abuse, disputes, and physical harassment.

A modernized Alcohol Control Act may cover a wider range of newer alcoholic beverages, a broader definition of alcoholic beverages, more regulations on the sales restrictions in certain time and places, and may appoint the ban of some sale channels such as online sale and direct sale.

The amendment of the Alcohol Control Act will be presented for the consideration of the sub-committee on 24 July 2015, prior to the amending process, the MOPH Minister says.


-- NNT 2015-07-16

Thailand is the biggest consumer of alcohol, in ASEAN

Thailand is the biggest consumer of alcohol, in ASEAN

By westerners?

Is it resonable to argue that if the current laws were observed and if required enforced (yes enforced) then furthur legislation would not be required?

Thailand starting to get on board with the "let's make and enforce more laws" nations. Keep this up and the US and EU will embrace them with open arms. Of course, they will have to open their borders up to all who wish to live and work here (with the exception of farang), but then they'll be brother nations, and a nice place to 'pivot'.

Thailand is the biggest consumer of alcohol, in ASEAN

By westerners?

but of course ... Dont you know : "A Thai would never do that" ....

Make Thailand a dry country. That will rid us of the riff raf and solve countless other problems.

Only problem is that most drunken teenagers don't buy alcohol near their school. Is the intention to slash the earnings of any Ma & Pa store that happens to be in vicinity of a school. What's the plan now really?

"Fuel stations"

Does that mean every Mom & Pop store that sell gasoline in whiskey bottles??

No worries!

Laws are passed but never enforced in Thailand.

Carry on, same same!

"More concentrated alcohol" is what I read.

"...and may appoint the ban of some sale channels such as online sale and direct sale..."

Little confused here. So the only way to get a beer would be in a bar or restaurant? Well, that encourages local business on one hand and discourages it on the other.

Hmmm, I wonder if phoning the wife's sister in her corner shop, a kilometre down the road, to have a nephew bring over a case of beer counts as "Online shopping"...

Make Thailand a dry country. That will rid us of the riff raf and solve countless other problems.

What a jolly good idea, hard to do mind you. Just out of interest what problems do you envisage being solved?

Make Thailand a dry country. That will rid us of the riff raf and solve countless other problems.

What a jolly good idea, hard to do mind you. Just out of interest what problems do you envisage being solved?

Only "his kind" will still be living in & visiting Thailand.