Some involve death and all involve injuries and destruction.Let's face it - one of the main causes is drunkenness. We know that over half of the drivers involved in motor accidents were sloshed at the wheel.

That probably explains why the Public Health Ministry, in both the Thaksin and Surayud governments, is so aggressive with plans to put very strict controls on the advertising of this scourge, although people in the profitable advertising and alcohol industries point out that Thailand is the first country to adopt such strict measure as a 24-hour advertising ban.

Mechai Viravaidya, chairman of the Population and Community Development Association, thinks the government should pay more attention to preventing Aids than controlling alcohol advertising.

To him, Aids is more dangerous than alcohol consumption and the Aids-related death toll is still rising. Yet with limited news coverage, younger people are being misled into believing that Aids is a thing of the past. "Now they are having unsafe sex without fears of Aids. Just think where this could lead them," he said.

His idea is that it's better to teach people to drink within their limits, rather than try to shelter them completely from alcohol products.

We think it might be difficult to teach Thais to control themselves. After all, from their first days they are familiar with having some authority figure to guide them along the way. Even as the advertising ban is to take effect soon, no drinker is complaining. Perhaps they are comfortable with that warm parental guidance - from a government.

achara_d@nationgroup.com