Thailand: All advertising of alcoholic beverages may be banned

New laws to protect non-drinkers and control overall alcohol consumption will put industry players in the same boat that cigarette companies have found themselves in, Thai Press Reports learned October 16. All kinds of alcohol marketing strategies including below-the-line activities such as give-aways and displays or sales promotions at points of purchase would be banned, new Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said on October 12.

"Alcohol has caused social losses to the country for a long time. It kills and maims people from road accidents. The ads prompt more youths to be new drinkers," he said.

"When the laws are enforced, the death toll from road accidents during New Year and Songkran will definitely decrease." A bill will be submitted to the National Legislative Assembly, which was appointed on October 12.

"We will ask the assembly to pass the law in a single stretch," he said.

In the meanwhile, the ministry will next week issue a decree that bans alcohol advertising on all media, soon after a hearing with alcohol beverage companies.

Posters, signs and other materials would be pulled down and young women working at restaurants and bars to promote beer or liquor sales would be banned. Offenders would face legal punishment.

An independent organisation would be set up to oversee implementation of the directive.

The Justice Ministry's new permanent secretary, Charun Pakdithanakul, approved of a total ban on advertising but said the huge amount of money circulating in the alcohol industry has always been the main obstacle to any such ban.

Alcohol is the main cause of crime and accidents as well as social and health problems, he said, adding the state has to systemise alcohol and tobacco taxes as the next step.

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