Prime Minister Surayud Chula-nont, who chaired the meeting, said ministers resolved to set up a working group with officials from various ministries to consider the laws' effects on related groups.

They would focus especially on whether to raise the age at which people are legally permitted to buy alcohol.

The Education, Commerce, Industry, plus the Social Develop-ment and Human Security ministries would all be involved, he said.

The new bill proposes raising the minimum age at which people are allowed to purchase alcohol from 18 to 25 years.

However, Cabinet ministers feared the moves may not be effective, Surayud said.

"How would the sellers know whether the buyers are over 25 years or not? It might also cause state officers to face difficulties enforcing the law," he said.

The working group would be chaired by Kosit Panpiemras, deputy prime minister and industry minister.

The bill put before Cabinet yesterday was another attempt by the Public Health Ministry to limit alcohol consumption.

It follows an order by the Food and Drug Administration yesterday to completely ban alcohol advertisements. The order will take effect within 45 days after being published in the Royal Gazette.

However, a network of alcohol producers, advertisers and retailers planned yesterday to petition the Administrative Court to block the FDA order, which they claimed would set a "double standard".

Producers say they are upset at the FDA move because the ad ban would not apply to printed matter published overseas or live-TV shows broadcast from overseas, for which Thailand is not the main target audience.

Boonchuay Thongcharoen-poonporn, secretary-general of the Federation on Alcohol Control for Thailand - which is made up of beverage companies, distributors, retailers, advertisers and related businesses - said the ban should be enforced with no exception.

"The exception to overseas print matter and live-TV programmes being broadcast [from overseas] would cause some alcohol players to take advantage of the exception," he said. The federation would meet today to discuss the issue.

Boonrawd Trading marketing manager Chatchai Wiratyosin said the exception was unreasonable and would favour some alcohol producers.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an, who has been appointed a member of the working group, said it would reveal its opinion next week.

"I agree with the measure to prohibit alcohol sales near schools, and places offering allurements to students should be removed from areas near schools within three to five years," he said.