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Another "Curious" Thai Gov't. Initiative

Hugh_Hoy

By Hugh_Hoy,
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Hugh_Hoy

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The below article once again demonstrates how government's "best and brightest" come up with the dumbest ideas. Here, we have the Thai cabinet approving an intiative limiting the sales of cigarettes and alcohol to between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. and midnight. Supposedly, this is out of concern for the "youth" of the country. WTF? These are the hours when "youth" are out of school and would most easily avail themselves of tobacco and booze (lunch and after school) ! No word yet if the ban will be extended to nightlife venues. Article is below:

 

 

"Thailand tightens rules on alcohol and cigarette sales

 

 

Tue Dec 14, 2:16 PM ET Health - AFP

 

TRANG, Thailand (AFP) - Thailand's cabinet approved a tightening of regulations on alcohol and cigarette sales to try to reduce consumption by young people after revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej aired concern.

 

The initiatives limit sales of alcohol and cigarettes to 10 hours per day and ban them altogether in schools, universities and temples.

 

"We expect the measures will improve the life of youths and result in the reduction of alcohol and cigarette consumption as well as the boosting of social order measures," government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said outside the cabinet meeting, which was held in southern Thailand.

 

Under the new measures alcohol and cigarettes can be sold from 11am to 2pm, and from 5pm to midnight.

It was not immediately clear if the rules would apply to bars or discos, which are allowed to stay open past midnight.

Surapol Supradit, deputy head of the finance ministry's excise department, said further clarification was needed, but "it is likely that they will include bars, restaurants and pubs."

 

A government spokesman said the regulations were agreed to "in principle," and that deputy prime minister Witsanu Krea-ngam, a legal expert, would scrutinise them.

Thai law already forbids the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to those under age 18, but enforcement has been lax and sales of the products in shops at or near high schools and universities are commonplace.

 

Vendors who do not comply could lose sales licenses or face three months in prison and fines of up to 30,000 baht (760 dollars), deputy finance minister Varathep Ratanakorn said after the meeting.

 

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's administration has renewed efforts recently to rein in vice among youth, especially since the king's birthday speech this month in which he expressed concern for the health of young people.

Authorities have already begun a nightclubs crackdown headed by Deputy Prime Minister Purachai Piemsomboon. He instituted a sweeping social order campaign two years ago, and the new push is requiring club owners to lower their noise level to 90 decibels or below.

 

The health ministry announced in August that alcohol consumption had surged, from a per capita average of 24.8 litres (6.4 gallons) in 1991 to 41.6 litres in 2001, making Thais the fifth-heaviest drinkers in the world after the Portuguese, the Irish, residents of the Bahamas and the Czechs."

 

BTW, looks like sanukers are giving the Thais a bad rep. :)

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