Organiser fined over cigarette ads at tobacco exhibition

The unnamed company was fined Bt20,000 for violating a 1992 law that prohibits pictorial or narrative displays of brands of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The violation took place at the Tabinfo Asia exhibition, which was held at a Muang Thong Thani exhibition hall, from Wednesday until yesterday.

A team of Public Health Ministry inspectors and local police met the staff of the company on Thursday to notify them of the offence. The staff appeared at the Nonthaburi provincial court yesterday and pleaded guilty, resulting in the initial fine of Bt40,000 being halved.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai hailed the court penalty as a sign to the world that Thailand's law on controlling tobacco consumption was effective and any violator was equally punishable. He said it would be used as a model at all upcoming international events of a similar kind to be held in Thailand.