"We are discussing with the federation's lawyers about filing the petition as the Public Health Ministry has abused its power by enforcing new rules without consulting private operators," Boonchuay Tongcharoenpulporn, secretary-general of the new organisation, said yesterday.

Also yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration vowed to carry on with implementing the comprehensive alcohol advertising ban, while the Public Health Ministry backed down on raising the minimum age for buying alcohol from 18 to 25 years. These are two of the restrictions contained in the draft alcohol zoning and control bill.

Manit Arunakoon, deputy secretary-general of the FDA, said he has signed the regulations to enforce the 24-hour ad ban and any violators would be arrested.

"This issue has been reviewed and it won't be relaxed," he said.

Boonchuay said that within two weeks, FACT - consisting of 24 associations representing alcohol importers, Thai restaurants, hotels and alcohol beverage producers - would sum up the disadvantages of the new law for submission to the ministries of Education, Industry, Natural Resources and Human Security, besides the Public Health Ministry.

Warathep Rangchaikul, CEO of Riche Monde (Bangkok) Co Ltd, a local distributor of Scotch whiskies, said his company might scrap the March 2007 Johnnie Walker golf tournament in Phuket if the law is enforced.

Designed to boost the resort island's tourism industry after the 2004 tsunami, the competition is expected to draw 10,000 visitors spending about Bt8 billion.

"Cancellation would deal a blow to Thailand's credibility as the event was supposed to be broadcast worldwide and covered by foreign media," Warathep said, adding Riche Monde has already spent 20 per cent of its Bt2 billion promotional budget for the tournament.

Wimonwan Udomporn of Riche Monde (Bangkok) said the ad ban would deprive the public of alcohol product information as well as social activities. It was also not fair as some alcohol businesses could sponsor foreign sports events and have their logos telecast here.

The damage would spill over to banner producers, hotels, restaurants and others in the tourism industry as alcohol companies would be discouraged from sponsoring any social activities. About 30,000 people might lose their jobs.

Breweries and distillers could move out to Indochina, which would deflate confidence in Thailand.

"The government has been trying to draw investment into this industry but now the industry is being labelled as a social destroyer. The relocation of plants would have severe repercussions on related industries and in the future nobody would dare invest in the industry," she added.