Thailand at forefront of curbing alcohol consumption in Asia-Pacific

Sydney

THAILAND will ban alcohol sales near universities and technical colleges, putting the nation at the forefront of efforts in Asia to curb consumption.

Under amendments to the Alcohol Control Act endorsed by the government on Wednesday and to be implemented nationwide late next month, bars, clubs and retailers will be prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages within a 300-metre radius of colleges. The measures are aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and tackling alcohol-related problems, including underage sex, the Ministry of Public Health said.

Thailand is moving further than other governments in countering growing demand for alcohol in Asia and the Pacific, the fastest-growing beer market for brewer Heineken NV. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for a 10 per cent reduction in the harmful use of alcohol by 2025 fr…