PUBLISHED: 3 Sep 2024 at 07: 08
A House committee that will review measures to address the problem of illegal herbal whiskey (ya dong ) will have a discussion with health and tax authorities.
The decision was made in response to the recent demise of six people who drank herbal booze containing ethyl alcohol. More than 30 people were hospitalised.
The panel’s chairman, Wisarn Techathirawat, said the alcohol control bill’s widespread and uncontrolled production of organic moonshine poses a serious public health issue because consumers are unaware of or misinformed about the ingredients ‘ safety.
The committee will discuss how to implement the Alcohol Control Act and related laws to protect the consumer on Wednesday and meet with the director-general of the Department of Medical Services and department of import representatives.
Caretaker Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat has told the Excise Department to bite down on the illegal production of alcoholic drinks, said Nittaya Soreekul, the agency’s assistant chief and representative.
Selling organic moonshine is prohibited in the eyes of Ms. Nittaya, and offenders are charged with tampering with alcohol by adding other substances for sale. The illegal possession of a condensing system results in a prison sentence of up to six months and/or a fine of up to 100, 000 ringgit. Selling illegal alcohol carries a fine of up to 50, 000 baht, and consumers even face a fine of up to 10, 000 ringgit.
All of the victims who were taken into care for methanol drunkenness had a background of consuming organic moonshine, according to a department investigation, she claimed.
The organic whiskey producer in Min Buri was accused of conspiring to produce alcohol without a permit and supplied methyl alcohol to him.