Bangkok--23 Nov--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Federation on Alcohol Control of Thailand (FACT), in collaboration with “Cares for Friends Club” and the university students network are encouraging retailers, restaurants and entertainment establishments to avoid selling alcohol to university students.
Following a recent meeting to determine suitable measures to help prevent underage drinking, entertainment and restaurants owners, university executives, and university students reached an agreement to prevent the sale of alcohol in areas surrounding universities.
Mr Boonchuay Tongcharoenpulporn, General Secretary, Federation on Alcohol Control of Thailand (FACT) said that to create a national policy when there is a problem of underage drinking, it is important to invite all stakeholders to discuss and agree on measures to operate businesses in a responsible manner.
FACT members including retailers and restaurants are working on establishing rules which will guide an 11 point ethical approach to managing their businesses while entertainment establishments will run their business more strictly with six additional rules to not sell alcohol to underage individuals, particular university students.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Chiradet Ousawat, President of the University of The Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), “Voluntary cooperation will consist of various methods to solve problems at the outset rather than relying on legal mechanisms which are commonly adopted when the problem has already reached an acute phase. I prefer implementing controls on behaviour rather than a total ban on alcohol advertising as there are many studies which confirm that bans on advertising do not limit excessive consumption of alcohol. Universities should be part of ‘control’ areas and all restaurants and pub owners should cooperate with the universities to create national policies for a safe society.”
Mr Somsak Dangboonrueang, the Secretary of The Owners Club said that shops surrounding universities and pubs that don’t have licenses to sell alcohol do create problems for society. They are not running their businesses in an ethical manner. It’s great that the university students network is helping to encourage polices to examine and arrest persons who violate the law. If there is fair competition, the owners will be more responsible.
Mr Kasama Tayawat, a member of the Control and Examine Responsible Marketing Committee said effective controls and monitoring of existing laws will lead to more transparent business operations. Laws need to be fair and efficient. ID card examination needs to involve voluntary cooperation from all stakeholders. Drinkers will be encouraged to cooperate with FACT to allow ID card examination rather than getting arrested for drunk driving and people should be encouraged to rest and drink a lot of water rather than getting into a car accident due to drunk driving.
Mr Veerayuth Srichantra, a member of the Cares for Friends Club and sub-committee on ethics among university students from 60 institutions said that the many successes of self regulation among university students has demonstrated the possibility of more responsibly managing the problems of underage drinking.
New FACT new members who have agreed to the six rules on responsible marketing operations including pub and restaurants surrounding UTCC’s include 18-19, Klass Rooms, Rak Lin, Sum See Sum Ha, Sit Up, Hunsa, Nakhon Vientiane and Klang Soi.
The six rules include
1) not selling alcohol to students wearing uniforms,
2) routine ID Card examination,
3) enforcement of Open-Close hours,
3) pub and restaurants have to warn customers about excessive drinking levels (50mg% ),
5) pubs and restaurants have to warn customers about alcohol misuse, and 6) control and monitor anyone who violates the law.