Several organizations and politicians are calling for tighter controls on alcohol advertising in response to rising alcohol consumption in the country over the past 10 years.
Ampon Jinda, director of the National Health System Reform Office (HSRO), yesterday expressed support for a proposal by Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Chaturon Chaisang, to ban all radio and TV ads for alcoholic drinks between 5:00am and 10:00pm.
The proposals also include a ban on alcohol being promoted by actors, singers and sportsmen and women. In addition, alcohol sales would be banned at petrol stations and convenience stores in response to rising levels of drink-driving. HSRO statistics indicated that 60% of road fatalities were drink-related.
Jinda said that alcohol consumption had more than doubled over the past 10 years to 1.604 billion litres per year.
