wowpow
October 14th, 2006, 02:37
Alcohol displays to be forced off shelves
Will be part of govt's total ban on adverts
Bangkok Post
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL & BHANRAVEE TANSUBHAPOL
Alcohol displays will be forced off the shelves as a part of a total ban on alcohol advertisements in all forms of media and a national anti-drinking campaign, which will come into effect at the end of the month. The announcement on anti-alcohol advertisements will also include a ban on alcohol displays at places such as convenience stores, shopping malls, restaurants and outdoor beer gardens. Posters, signs and promotional materials carrying logos and names of liquor brands will be pulled from these places.
''The measures to control drinking will be enforced similarly to those on cigarette and tobacco products in order to reduce the number of deaths and health payments due to drinking alcohol, and road accidents,'' Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said yesterday.
The ministerial announcement will be released next week as part of the total ban on alcohol advertisements in all forms of media around the clock.
It will be put into effect by the end of the month after it is published in the Royal Gazette, said deputy director-general of the Disease Control Department Narong Sahamethapat. Those violating the announcement could face a 30,000 baht fine and a three-month jail term.
Dr Mongkol said young women working at outdoor beer gardens would not be allowed to wear uniforms bearing logos and names of alcohol products.
Legal and health experts are also studying whether the announcement could cover a ban on other materials such as chairs, tables and umbrellas usually displayed in these areas.
Dr Mongkol said displays of alcohol products would still be allowed at nightclubs and pubs registered with the Interior Ministry as specific spots where alcoholic beverages were legally sold.
The minister believes the new measure will help reduce the number of deaths and accidents due to drinking and driving during the forthcoming long weekends such as the New Year and Songkran festivals.
The number of road injuries and the death toll due to drink driving during the Songkran Festival last April alone reached 6,194 and 506 respectively, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.
Dr Mongkol said he planned to set up a new bureau to work on the drinking and smoking control project together with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.
At present the project is under the supervision of the Department of Disease Control and health officials neither have the authority nor the funds to run the anti-smoking and anti-drinking campaigns effectively.
Acting Justice Permanent Secretary Jaran Pukditanakul welcomed the idea of the Public Health Ministry's alcohol advertisement ban but said it might not be enough to discourage drinking.
Taxes levied on all kinds of alcohol products and cigarettes, including those imported from other countries, should be increased, he said.
He said the ban on alcohol advertisements would be a good opportunity to persuade people to change their lifestyles as domestic violence and drink-driving cases mostly stemmed from over-consumption of alcohol.
Will be part of govt's total ban on adverts
Bangkok Post
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL & BHANRAVEE TANSUBHAPOL
Alcohol displays will be forced off the shelves as a part of a total ban on alcohol advertisements in all forms of media and a national anti-drinking campaign, which will come into effect at the end of the month. The announcement on anti-alcohol advertisements will also include a ban on alcohol displays at places such as convenience stores, shopping malls, restaurants and outdoor beer gardens. Posters, signs and promotional materials carrying logos and names of liquor brands will be pulled from these places.
''The measures to control drinking will be enforced similarly to those on cigarette and tobacco products in order to reduce the number of deaths and health payments due to drinking alcohol, and road accidents,'' Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla said yesterday.
The ministerial announcement will be released next week as part of the total ban on alcohol advertisements in all forms of media around the clock.
It will be put into effect by the end of the month after it is published in the Royal Gazette, said deputy director-general of the Disease Control Department Narong Sahamethapat. Those violating the announcement could face a 30,000 baht fine and a three-month jail term.
Dr Mongkol said young women working at outdoor beer gardens would not be allowed to wear uniforms bearing logos and names of alcohol products.
Legal and health experts are also studying whether the announcement could cover a ban on other materials such as chairs, tables and umbrellas usually displayed in these areas.
Dr Mongkol said displays of alcohol products would still be allowed at nightclubs and pubs registered with the Interior Ministry as specific spots where alcoholic beverages were legally sold.
The minister believes the new measure will help reduce the number of deaths and accidents due to drinking and driving during the forthcoming long weekends such as the New Year and Songkran festivals.
The number of road injuries and the death toll due to drink driving during the Songkran Festival last April alone reached 6,194 and 506 respectively, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.
Dr Mongkol said he planned to set up a new bureau to work on the drinking and smoking control project together with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation.
At present the project is under the supervision of the Department of Disease Control and health officials neither have the authority nor the funds to run the anti-smoking and anti-drinking campaigns effectively.
Acting Justice Permanent Secretary Jaran Pukditanakul welcomed the idea of the Public Health Ministry's alcohol advertisement ban but said it might not be enough to discourage drinking.
Taxes levied on all kinds of alcohol products and cigarettes, including those imported from other countries, should be increased, he said.
He said the ban on alcohol advertisements would be a good opportunity to persuade people to change their lifestyles as domestic violence and drink-driving cases mostly stemmed from over-consumption of alcohol.