Another alcohol clampdown

[PeteC]

It's just as well that they didn't include places of worship in that list, which might have made more sense!

There's a Wat every few hundred yards in most towns. Take a river trip up the Chao Praya and all you see are Wat's lining the nearby villages. If they get to that point, just make it a dry country.

[Bristolian]

You can only assume that 301m is too far to expect a Thai student to want to walk!

[Name Taken]

Ban of alcohol in 300m-radius of educational institutions proposed
A committee chaired by Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin is pushing for a ban on the sale of alcohol in a 300-metre radius of vocational and higher-educational institutions.
The proposed ban will not apply to hotels and approved entertainment zones like Patpong and Royal City Avenue.

"We will propose the ban to the National Alcohol Beverage Policy Committee on July 3," Rajata said Thursday in his capacity as chair of the Alcohol Control Committee.

He said if the policy committee, chaired by a deputy prime minister, approved the proposal, then it would be put before Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for a final okay.

"Once endorsed by the premier, the ban will be announced in the Royal Gazette and go into effect 30 days later," he said.

Rajata said that once the ban is in effect, violators will be punished with a jail term of up to six months and/or a maximum fine of Bt10,000.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 62588.html

Just another crackpot idea by some Thai politician.
Maybe, all the foreigners in Thailand should just move to Pattaya, Sukhumvit or Silom.

[Big Boy]

Actually, it has been enforced for some time - don't know about the penalties though, which seem very harsh.

As many know, I am one of the many who follow Hua Hin City wherever they play. I don't drink, but the chap who travels with me does. We have noticed that whenever a match is being played at one of the university sites, which seem very common, there is never beer on sale, and usually notices about alcohol prohibition.

My friend usually carries a few tinnies in his bag as an emergency supply.

When we went to the Chulalonghorn stadium a few months back, it was very noticeable that not even the 7-11's sold beer, as in none in the shop. My son and friend actually sought out some beer being sold under the counter there, and drank quite openly inside the stadium. What a shocker that would have been if the authorities actually enforced it.

Crackpot or not, it is happening, and this now seems to be getting rubber stamped. I would guess this law will affect Thais more than Farang.

[buksida]

I think before it was only 100 meters - they're extending the range now. As mentioned above this will impact a lot more shops, bars and restaurants anywhere near a school.

[STEVE G]

....a ban on the sale of alcohol in a 300-metre radius of vocational and higher-educational institutions.

Aren't most of those types of institute away from the center of Hua Hin anyway? If it was any type of school, 300m would pretty much finish off the whole city!

[Takiap]

If it includes any type of school, then in Soi 6 for example, 1 Family Mart; 2 7/11's; and about 6 or 7 Mom & Pop shops will be affected. Of course, Tesco in MV will no longer be able to sell alcohol either, and neither will Makro.

Of course, with Mr. Chang Beer guy being the second richest person in Thailand, I can't see this proposal even being read by the General.

[Takiap]

You can only assume that 301m is too far to expect a Thai student to want to walk!

Of course it is to far to walk, hence the reason why they'll go on their motorbikes.

[Name Taken]

We should all just move to Patpong, Pattaya, Sukhumvit or Silom so that the Thai authorities can keep an eye on us for 'our own safety'.

[caller]

Out of curiosity, what's the thinking behind this proposal - What's it meant to achieve?

[lomuamart]

It's meant to achieve absolutely nothing, IMHO, except that these tech college students seem to go around murdering each other all the time so maybe the minister thinks that this will solve the problem?
The enforcement zone has been in effect concerning proximity to schools and temples for as long as I can remember. A local 7-11 right next to a school didn't sell booze or ciggies. They didn't get much custom from me!!
The 3-5pm ban on buying off sales came in to try and deter school student from buying but of course it never occurred to the bright spark who thought one up that a 12 year old in school uniform was probably underage so some form of ID for booze sales might have been a more appropriate solution.
Again, IMHO, these so called politicians are just fawners. They feel that they've got to promulgate some law for the good of the country. Basically they're just ..... well I won't write down how I feel about them.

[maccastime]

I was advised on Thursday night a few bar owners or staff attended the cop shop and were told no beer sales before 5pm? Can anyone confirm this and why!

[Name Taken]

Of course, with Mr. Chang Beer guy being the second richest person in Thailand

I can't say I'm surprised by that.

[buksida]

Could even be 500 meters now, combined with the ban on highways, that covers about 80% of the outlets in the country ...

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 62949.html

[buksida]

Business group claims booze ban would cost 125,000 jobs
A group representing 3,400 businesses nationwide says 125,000 jobs will be lost immediately if a proposed ban on alcohol sales within 300 metres of educational institutions is enacted.

The network, comprised of members of the Thai Retailers Association, Thai Hotel Association, Thai Food Traders Association, Khaosan Business Association, Thai Wine Association and Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association, said the regulations drafted by the Prime Minister's Office and set to be considered Friday by the National Alcoholic Beverage Policy Commission also would have unintended negative impacts on shopping malls and supermarkets while failing to address the root cause of underage drinking.

The government's Alcohol Control Committee on June 18 approved the proposal by the PM's Office to ban alcohol sales within a 300-metre radius of universities and vocational colleges. The regulations were drafted after studies showed the number of outlets where booze was available near schools had jumped 72% in the past five years.

But the business group complained in a statement released Thursday that the order, drafted without input from affected businesses, "does not appear to take into account its impact on business, employment, tourism and the economy".

"Our initial estimates indicate that 125,000 jobs will be lost immediately upon the enactment of this declaration," the statement said. "Its enforcement could lead to the closure of entertainment and service venues, while the cessation of alcoholic beverage sales -- or forced relocation -- among shopping malls and restaurants would have considerable effects on each business' ability to compete and carry out various activities, eventually leading up to job cuts that would affect not only the departing employees but also their families."

Full Story: Bangkok Post

Section 44 is to be invoked to deal with alcohol sale near campuses
The National Council for Peace and Order will be asked by the Justice Ministry to invoke Section 44 of the interim Constitution to deal with street racing and the sale of alcoholic drinks near educational institutions.

Justice Minister Paibul Kumchaya chaired a meeting of parties concerned to discuss the street racing by cars and motorcycles and the sale of liquor near colleges and universities. The meeting resolved that Section 44 should be exercised to deal with the two problems.

To regulate entertainment venues which serve liquor to their clients, General Paibul explained that such venues are divided into two types: the first type is entertainment premises which are located near educational institutions and the second type covers entertainment venues in general.

He said that authorities can close down or revoke the operating licenses of entertainment venues close to educational institutions if they cause nuisance to people in the neighbourhood. For general entertainment venues, they may be closed down up to five years, he added.

The minister admitted that it is difficult to determine an entertainment venue is close to or far from a college or university. He said the Education Ministry, Public Health Ministry and the National Police Office should sit down to work out the appropriate distance that an entertainment venue should be located from educational institutions.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/sectio ... r-campuses