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Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday launched his campaign to ban alcohol sales on public holidays.

Drinking leads to crime and road accidents, resulting in death and injuries, Chalerm said, citing a 2006 report that 31 per cent, or 16 million, of the population were drinkers. Nine million of them drink alcohol on a regular basis.

He assigned the Disease Control Department to consider invoking Article 28 of the Alcohol Beverage Control Act of 2008, which prohibits the sale of alcohol on days des¬ignated by ministerial regulations.

The regulation should be issued in one month and include public holidays such as New Year's Day, Songkran and religious holidays, Chalerm said.

Dr Saman Futrakul, head of the department's tobacco and alcohol consumption control group, said the regulation had been drafted and submitted to deputy permanent secretary Paijit Warachit.

After getting the National Alcohol Consumption Control Committee's approval, the regula¬tion would need to get Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's sign off and then it would be published in the Royal Gazette for implementation.

Violators would face up to six months in jail and/or up to a Bt10,000 fine.

The regulation would also pro¬hibit liquor sales from 11am-2pm and 5pm - midnight every day, except by those with the authority's permission.

Chalerm also put the permanent secretary and Medical Services Department chief in charge of two projects.

One plan would make Thailand an Asia-Pacific medical hub by selecting high potential hospitals - one in Bangkok and one in each major tourist city - within one month.

The other plan would expand the successful model of the integration of medical and drugrehabilitation policies in Sa Kaew to other provinces.