Alcohol advertising laws flouted, say industry critics

what they claimed were violations by liquor companies of laws banning alcohol advertising on billboards.

Network  coordinator, Kamron Chudecha said the group had been monitoring billboards since the Alcohol Consumption Control Bill came into effect in February.

They found companies  had violated the law's Article 32 by advertising alcohol products on a billboard beside the Motorway's Tha Chang toll gate, showing company logos and bottles.

The survey also found 23 alcohol products advertised on billboards beside five main roads in Bangkok, such as Lat Phrao, Ramindra, Pattanakarn and Sukhumvit.  S ome companies advertised their products on table covers and light boxes as well, Kamron said.

According to the law, offending company executives can face fines of Bt 500,000, or jail for one year. But there had been no action by police to charge offenders, despite the law having been in place for six months.

" Even though the punishment is severe, police are still afraid of the influence of liquor companies," he said. "This was why companies continue violating the law and advertising their products on billboards."

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister, Chalerm Yoobamrung is pressing the ban on alcohol sales on public holidays.  Kamron said he agreed with the minister and wants the government to revise the alcohol consumption bill to increase punishment for those violating laws by selling alcohol on public holidays.

Kamron said punishment under the public holiday regulations are light. Violators who sell alcohol on a  declared public holiday, face fines of  only Bt 10,000 or a maximum six months  in jail.