Thailand: Government likely to restrict alcohol advertising time

A decade after laws were passed limiting areas where staff can smoke in state offices, the government has finally decided to enforce them. Any permanent secretary or chief of a state office who continues to turn a blind eye to staff or visitors violating non-smoking laws will be fined 20,000 baht, Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat warned on January 16 , according to a report of Bangkok Post.

Ads for beer, spirits and other alcohol are allowed on TV only from 10pm to 5am, so as not to encourage drinking by adolescents. This may be limited to between 2am and 5am."We will work on the details. Hopefully, everything will be settled within 45 days," the minister said.

If a total ban on advertising alcohol in the media was implemented, television would be hardest hit in terms of revenue. Research by the Centre for Alcohol Studies found total annual media revenue for advertising of alcoholic drinks is about 2.3 billion baht, with 1.6 billion baht going to TV, 229 million baht to newspapers and 169 million baht to radio stations. The study was between 1999 and 2004.

According to a ministry survey, Thais drank an average 58 litres of alcohol per person in 2003, up from 20.2 litres in 1989.Health officials have been particularly concerned about the rapid increase in drinking among the 11-19 age group.

New laws or laws being drafted aimed at stemming this trend include limiting areas where alcohol can be sold, banning alcohol sales at petrol stations, limiting sales hours in stores and raising the legal age from 18 to 21 years.

Drafting of the bills is expected to be completed the end of next month and they will then be sent to the parliament.

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