Minimum age raised to 25 for buyers of booze APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL Health authorities have stepped up measures to curb alcohol consumption among youth by moving up the minimum legal age of buyers from 18 to 25 years. Narong Sahamethapat, deputy chief of the Disease Control Department, said yesterday that the idea was proposed by a network of parents early this year during a public hearing of a draft bill to control alcoholic drinks. The measure to raise the legal minimum age of buyers is part of a national campaign to save Thai youth from alcohol abuse, he said, adding that it has already been incorporated into Article 28 of the draft. Under the bill, the following areas will be designated as alcohol-free zones _ temples, state offices, schools, universities and other places of education. Also, the authorities plan to declare an alcohol-free day when alcohol sales and promotional activities are prohibited. Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said earlier that a ban on alcohol advertising in all forms of media will be announced on Monday, while the draft alcohol product control bill will be proposed to the cabinet and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) for approval as soon as possible. If approved, it will be the country's first law that gives health officials comprehensive power to tackle all alcohol-related issues, similar to the Tobacco Control Law. A study conducted this year by the National Economic and Social Development Board found the number of young drinkers, aged 15-24, has increased from 21.6% to 23.5%. It also found that Thais started drinking at a younger age, with almost 50% of new drinkers aged between 15-19 years old. Bundit Sornpaisarn, director of an academic centre dealing with alcohol problems, said the measure to raise the minimum legal age of buyers to 25 would effectively reduce youngsters' access to alcohol. Previous studies on alcohol controls showed that the earlier teenagers were exposed to alcohol promotions, the sooner they started drinking, he said. Wallop Tangkananurak, a member of the NLA, urged the government to hike the excise tax on alcoholic products. Phra Ratchdhamanithet, better known as Phra Payom Kalayano, voiced strong support for the anti-drinking movement. He said the drinking of alcohol, which is prohibited in the five Buddhist precepts, is much more harmful and sinful than lottery betting. Thailand ranks No. 5 in the world for consumption of alcohol. On average, a Thai consumes 14 litres of alcoholic drinks per year, according to the Thailand Development Research Institute.  

Geez, Bob, you had to post this on Cream's birthday? Poor girl.

Frankly, I hope it doesn't pass.

I just read that as well. Will be a big blow to the tourism industry. A lot of western honeymooners will be pissed that they come over here on vacation and are still treated as kids.

The only questions that comes to mind is... When is one considered an adult in Thailand (legal age)? Since you're considered an adult at that age, does this measure not directly go against your constitutional freedoms?

Does this mean that people younger than 25 will not be allowed in clubs anymore either? How will this be enforced? I see more problems arise from this when young people start throwing home/room parties with a few people buying booze. Bad for the entertainment and tourism industry for sure.

Might be good to also put a ban in place then to anybody over 50 drinking alcohol then... lol... ABSOLUTe nonsensical law. They should better enforce the current law and focus on education instead of belittling people.

Mike sorry of the timing of the post. I was shocked and I agree that I hope it is not passed.

I think 25 is alittle harsh. Otherwise the choice of venues for TF parties might have to move to house parties.

"A study conducted this year by the National Economic and Social Development Board found the number of young drinkers, aged 15-24, has increased from 21.6% to 23.5%. It also found that Thais started drinking at a younger age, with almost 50% of new drinkers aged between 15-19 years old."

mmm, what on earth does these mean? Percantage of drinkers? Are they worried that only 77% of the ppl age 15-24 are anymore total absolutists (=do not drink alcohol at all)? Man, if the number of ppl who drink alchol were something like 99% then I would be worried.

addition: wow, 5th consumer per capita! Talk about difference between state religion and values vs. reality there (yes, same goes to most secular western countries too..which used to uphold religion based moral values) :-O Who on earth is consuming the booze? That is a big problem! The young ppl at their age are not yet in problemn (comparing how few of them drink...or maybe they drink all a lot then?) Because in Finland drinkin' starts younger and more, but still, total consuption is less...Problem rises somewhere along the line. 25 is very high age. 21 is more common...

what is the tourist industry going to do when it crashes

sending thailand deeper and deeper into developing nation catergory

you cant buy it until your 25 ............does it say anything about what age they will have for drinking it ?

..and the knee jerking continues...

That's it, no more free will.

I got it....charge high cover charge to enter, but all you can drink for free.

Is Thailand trying to kiill the goose that lays the golden eggs (tourism) with this alcohol thing and the visa thing?

i wont complain. im not 25.

Kriecky man!!! I thought that the advertising ban was bad enough and was pooh-poohed in the forum topic I started. This is serious! I can envision a lot of illegal clubs and perhaps even the cops busting up parties at apartment building, should they "get out of control", or get reported.

Just about anytime a government tries to control substances via bans the only people that profit are the crooks.

Oh, wait, that guy is in England right now...

:-)