Additionally, speakers at the seminars suggest putting more severe sanctions on adolescents who sell goods.
PUBLISHED: 17 Aug 2024 at 18: 42
The Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association ( Tabba ) is urging the government to change Section 32 of the Alcohol Control Act to remove its “overly strict” restrictions on alcohol advertising.
In order to explain the changes they would like to view, the Association members and the Craft Beer Association attended a lecture on Friday, titled “32 Civilized, No More Full Ban: Reforming Alcohol Control Laws for a Better Society” to explain the topics.
Individuals in their own reform plans, according to Khemika Rattanakun, the president of Tabba, who said they concurred that social responsibility and preventing minors from having easy access to alcohol were at the forefront of their own reform plans. Studies have shown that young having continues to be a concern.
She concurred that Section 32 been amended to allow for clear-cut alcohol marketing in accordance with a proposal made by the Thailand Development Research Institute.
She suggested lowering the latest one-year prison term and/or fines for selling alcohol to minors, noting that those who violate the advertising laws may face even harsher penalties.
Alcoholic drinks may not be promoted in a way that directly or indirectly promotes or encourages its use, and may not even display the product or its presentation. Health warning signs must be included with advertising.
The law has been interpreted really broadly to include any representations of alcoholic beverages, such as images that appear in news stories that feature a product label.
A new draft Alcoholic Beverage Control Act that proposes making the marketing restrictions even stronger was approved by the government in March of this year in process.
A violation of the current marketing regulations can result in a fine of up to 500, 000 baht and a time in jail.
The agency’s secretary-general, Prapavee Hematat, said confusion in the rules leads to extensive views by specialists and serious criminal penalties being levied which are overwhelming to the offences.
He also said the law deprives consumers of their right to information, creates obstacles for small businesses and supports monopolies, killing small businesses and community-based manufacturers in the local market.
Charoen Charoenchai, a professor of food and beverage technology, concurred with Mr. Prapavee that current punishments do not fit the crime because, at the moment, sharing academic information with alcohol can result in severe fines and legal action for the violators.