Possibility of the minimum age for alcohol drinking rising
Possibility of the minimum age for alcohol drinking rising
What are peoples thoughts on the suggestion that alcohol will be prohibited to people under 25. What would happen to the bargirls! as presumably any law change would include the staff.
-
Guess
- Deceased
- Posts: 3470
- Joined: Fri Jul 22, 2005 3:01 pm
- Location: BangSaphan. Laurasia. Sub thumb
Re: Possibility of the minimum age for alcohol drinking risi
ROB,THAI ROB wrote:What are peoples thoughts on the suggestion that alcohol will be prohibited to people under 25. What would happen to the bargirls! as presumably any law change would include the staff.
What I have heard from Thai circles is that this is another measure to curb troublesome motorbike gangs in the provincila centres.
The law will apply to the sale of alcolhol in shops or licensed premises. BGS almost always have drinks bought for them so would be still subject to the existing laws of drinking on licensed premises. (Over 18 I think).
My guess is that in Hua Hin and other tourist areas nothing will be enforced unless the MIB want to get you for something anyway. Like just about every police force in the world, if they want you they will get you for something.
The whole situation in Thailand of the problem that this law is trying to address is worthy of a thread of its own I think. There are many paralelles with the UK and the US in the fifties and early sixties where a combination of new found affluence and bored youth created immense social problems.
The Thais might do themselves a justcice by studying post war US and UK social history rahter than implement blanket bans on certain activities.
The effect of those measures is to drive the business underground and create a completely new youth subculture.
Last edited by Guess on Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
[color=blue][size=134]Care in the community success story.[/size][/color]
Unfortunately nothing
What will happen??????
Unfortunately nothing.
Even if this law is passed and that is already in doubt (see Bangkok Post) there have been little loopholes which allowed sixteen year old girls work in the bars. I know we had one at one stage. She got special dispensation to work there and only had a few rules which see had to abide (right!) by.
The only thing that will happen, if the law goes ahead, is the higher amount of money that will be forked out (or rather under). And those people will continue to pay this so they can continue to break the law. If they are not breaking the law then they wouldn't have to pay these auxillary payments.
I hope I haven't angered anyone or said anything that will have this pulled but this is one of my pet dislikes and irks me no end.
Unfortunately nothing.
Even if this law is passed and that is already in doubt (see Bangkok Post) there have been little loopholes which allowed sixteen year old girls work in the bars. I know we had one at one stage. She got special dispensation to work there and only had a few rules which see had to abide (right!) by.
The only thing that will happen, if the law goes ahead, is the higher amount of money that will be forked out (or rather under). And those people will continue to pay this so they can continue to break the law. If they are not breaking the law then they wouldn't have to pay these auxillary payments.
I hope I haven't angered anyone or said anything that will have this pulled but this is one of my pet dislikes and irks me no end.
I'm pretty sure that the whole bill was thrown out two days ago. not just the 25 year old thing, but the proposed ban on alcohol advertising as well.
That's not to say that it won't resurface in some way, shape or form later, just that it wasn't accepted de facto immediately.
And quite right too. How can you tell someone who's old enough to kill, or be killed - national service - that they can't have a beer?
I know you can join the army etc in the UK at 16 and not drink in a pub 'till 18, but 25?
That's not to say that it won't resurface in some way, shape or form later, just that it wasn't accepted de facto immediately.
And quite right too. How can you tell someone who's old enough to kill, or be killed - national service - that they can't have a beer?
I know you can join the army etc in the UK at 16 and not drink in a pub 'till 18, but 25?
I read something in Thai media to the effect that the major beer producers (Chang and Singh) are up in arms due to the fact that Lao Khao (rice whiskey) sales far exceed beer sales on a per bottle basis. Its the hard liquor thats doing the damage so they proposed a taxation system that works on the proof of the brew as opposed to the size of the bottle.
I believe this is how it works in the west. If they could adopt a simple premise like this and price accordingly (also with cigarettes) it may do something to alleviate the problems instead of these stupid blanket bans that achieve absolutely nothing.
I believe this is how it works in the west. If they could adopt a simple premise like this and price accordingly (also with cigarettes) it may do something to alleviate the problems instead of these stupid blanket bans that achieve absolutely nothing.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
terry wrote
Crash helmet? what's that?
Drink and drive - of course we do!!
Tacho? Sorry we don't even have a dashboard in our lorries
Sorry, what does overload mean?
Lights? Why? I can see in the dark as I eat lots of carrots and I'm usually drunk anyway
ps What is a driving licence? and for that matter, tax and insurance?
In a challenge the local MIB the response is usually a 50 or hundred back pocket note
Love to see them try to implement this up in IssanIt's the law to wear crash helmets
It's illegal to drink and drive
It's the law to have a calibrated tacho in the cab of a 10 wheel truck
It's illegal to overload a pickup
It's illegal to drive at night without lights
etc etc etc etc
Crash helmet? what's that?
Drink and drive - of course we do!!
Tacho? Sorry we don't even have a dashboard in our lorries
Sorry, what does overload mean?
Lights? Why? I can see in the dark as I eat lots of carrots and I'm usually drunk anyway
ps What is a driving licence? and for that matter, tax and insurance?
In a challenge the local MIB the response is usually a 50 or hundred back pocket note
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
True Richard,
Still, I'm proud to say that after almost 3 years, my wife bought a new helmet today. A decent one, at that.
You can take a horse to water, sometimes it just takes a long time for it to drink.
I just hope this latest addition to "biking fashion" - it's a dashing pinkish colour - dosn't give her the feeling that's she's immortal.
Still, I'm proud to say that after almost 3 years, my wife bought a new helmet today. A decent one, at that.
You can take a horse to water, sometimes it just takes a long time for it to drink.
I just hope this latest addition to "biking fashion" - it's a dashing pinkish colour - dosn't give her the feeling that's she's immortal.
Pete
Does the colour match the basket on tthe front. As you are well aware crash helmets seem to be fonder of basket travel than head protection!!!!
Does the colour match the basket on tthe front. As you are well aware crash helmets seem to be fonder of basket travel than head protection!!!!
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
If Lomu's wife comes wizzing through Pattaya with her pink helmet on, I'll let you know.richard wrote:Pete
Does the colour match the basket on tthe front. As you are well aware crash helmets seem to be fonder of basket travel than head protection!!!!
We'll then know she's gone mad and destined to join a biker group over here. I hear the girls here are starting something called Satan's Silk Stockings to compete with the guy bikers. 
Mama, don't let your daughters grow up to be bikers.....
Pete
Everyone seems to be pondering how this proposed age drinking limit may impact on the Thais, but will it apply to EVERYONE under 25 years?
What about if it applies on foreigners, both resident and tourists too?
A lot of visitors may give Thailand a miss if this was to be written into law.
Threre would be a lot of not too happy (under 25) expats also.
What about if it applies on foreigners, both resident and tourists too?
A lot of visitors may give Thailand a miss if this was to be written into law.
Threre would be a lot of not too happy (under 25) expats also.
Minimum age for buying alcohol likely to stay at 18
Minimum age for buying alcohol likely to stay at 18
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
mongkol: Will keep pushing controls bill
The minimum age for buying alcohol is likely to remain at 18 years after cabinet voiced concerns over the necessity and effectiveness of a measure to raise it, incorporated in the alcohol control bill.
Disease Control Department director-general Thawat Sundarachan said yesterday that health authorities had to reconsider whether it was essential to increase the minimum age for buying alcohol from 18 to 25 years, after cabinet on Tuesday was concerned the idea might not work well in reality.
Health authorities will reconsider the issue with law enforcement agencies and the Education, Justice, Social Development and Human Security ministries next week. The alcohol control bill will be tabled again at the cabinet meeting on Oct 31.
There was no need to increase the legal age for buying alcohol to 25 if the meeting agreed to consider the age based on the 1997 constitution, because it defined people aged 18 years upwards as adults and said they also have the right to vote, Dr Thawat said. They should be aware of the health hazards caused by alcoholic drinks before buying them, he added.
However it was essential to raise the minimum age to 25 years if the consideration was based on facts and findings from several studies on the damage to health due to accidents and drunk driving, especially in young adults.
But any changes in the details and guidelines of the proposed alcohol control bill would not cover displays of alcoholic beverage logos and other materials at live international sports events, so the enforcement would be in line with the round-the-clock ban on alcohol commercials which would become effective on Dec 5, he said.
Dr Thawat said it was necessary to exclude international broadcasts "for the sake of sports promotions" although a local alcohol brand is a major sponsor of a football club playing in the English Premier League, which is available on local television programmes. He was apparently referring to Chang beer, which sponsors Everton FC.
He believed football enthusiasts would be able to watch live football matches via other alternatives such as the Internet and satellite anyway. In addition, it was impossible to blur all logos appearing on live programmes, he added.
The existing ban on alcohol advertisements would help reduce the number of young drinkers to some degree, according to several studies on the issue.
Therefore, other measures should also be imposed in order to push the national anti-drinking campaign to success, he said.
Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said he was not discouraged by cabinet's remarks on increasing the legal minimum age for buying alcohol and would continue pushing the bill to cabinet and National Legislative Assembly for scrutiny and approval.
He would hold talks regarding an increase in excise tax on liquor with his finance counterpart soon, as well as seeking a conclusion on the minimum age for buying alcohol.
Prawase Attasupapol, health law director of the Council of State, said the Public Health Ministry did not use double standards in imposing the total advertising ban against alcoholic drinks, especially on the issue of foreign sports broadcasts on television.
The FDA announcement did not restrict any local liquor company from sponsoring international sporting events, he said.
Mr Prawase said more problems would occur if the ministry decided to impose restrictions on foreign sports events. Enforcing this would be difficult in practice and it was appropriate to leave it out.
Source Bangkok Post 19 Oct 06
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
mongkol: Will keep pushing controls bill
The minimum age for buying alcohol is likely to remain at 18 years after cabinet voiced concerns over the necessity and effectiveness of a measure to raise it, incorporated in the alcohol control bill.
Disease Control Department director-general Thawat Sundarachan said yesterday that health authorities had to reconsider whether it was essential to increase the minimum age for buying alcohol from 18 to 25 years, after cabinet on Tuesday was concerned the idea might not work well in reality.
Health authorities will reconsider the issue with law enforcement agencies and the Education, Justice, Social Development and Human Security ministries next week. The alcohol control bill will be tabled again at the cabinet meeting on Oct 31.
There was no need to increase the legal age for buying alcohol to 25 if the meeting agreed to consider the age based on the 1997 constitution, because it defined people aged 18 years upwards as adults and said they also have the right to vote, Dr Thawat said. They should be aware of the health hazards caused by alcoholic drinks before buying them, he added.
However it was essential to raise the minimum age to 25 years if the consideration was based on facts and findings from several studies on the damage to health due to accidents and drunk driving, especially in young adults.
But any changes in the details and guidelines of the proposed alcohol control bill would not cover displays of alcoholic beverage logos and other materials at live international sports events, so the enforcement would be in line with the round-the-clock ban on alcohol commercials which would become effective on Dec 5, he said.
Dr Thawat said it was necessary to exclude international broadcasts "for the sake of sports promotions" although a local alcohol brand is a major sponsor of a football club playing in the English Premier League, which is available on local television programmes. He was apparently referring to Chang beer, which sponsors Everton FC.
He believed football enthusiasts would be able to watch live football matches via other alternatives such as the Internet and satellite anyway. In addition, it was impossible to blur all logos appearing on live programmes, he added.
The existing ban on alcohol advertisements would help reduce the number of young drinkers to some degree, according to several studies on the issue.
Therefore, other measures should also be imposed in order to push the national anti-drinking campaign to success, he said.
Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said he was not discouraged by cabinet's remarks on increasing the legal minimum age for buying alcohol and would continue pushing the bill to cabinet and National Legislative Assembly for scrutiny and approval.
He would hold talks regarding an increase in excise tax on liquor with his finance counterpart soon, as well as seeking a conclusion on the minimum age for buying alcohol.
Prawase Attasupapol, health law director of the Council of State, said the Public Health Ministry did not use double standards in imposing the total advertising ban against alcoholic drinks, especially on the issue of foreign sports broadcasts on television.
The FDA announcement did not restrict any local liquor company from sponsoring international sporting events, he said.
Mr Prawase said more problems would occur if the ministry decided to impose restrictions on foreign sports events. Enforcing this would be difficult in practice and it was appropriate to leave it out.
Source Bangkok Post 19 Oct 06
Re: Possibility of the minimum age for alcohol drinking risi
I think the average age of bgs in Hua Hin is in the late 20s so the needs of the many will outweight the needs of the few.THAI ROB wrote:What are peoples thoughts on the suggestion that alcohol will be prohibited to people under 25. What would happen to the bargirls! as presumably any law change would include the staff.
The'll probably turn a blind eye if they even do pass it. Although I think they've agreed its now 20 year old age limit?
Last edited by Rider on Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:56 am, edited 1 time in total.