Group seeks stricter control on underage drinking
Anti-alcohol campaigners, including some 30 members of youth networks, called on Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-General Sutthipong Wongpin to check on shops in Bang Sue district’s Soi Wongsawang 11 that are allegedly selling booze to youths under the age of 20. The shops are believed to be near an educational institution, and hence prohibited from selling alcohol.
The group, led by Alcohol Watch coordinator Khamron Chudecha, claimed that it is this illegal sale of alcoholic beverages that contributed to the recent tragic killing of Witcha Noo-udom, 20. The student, who was studying at the College of Industrial Technology at King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, was stabbed to death by one of the 11 drunk male students from another technological college on June 27. The attackers were aged 16 to 17. Khamron said any shops that sell booze to underage persons or sell outside the permitted time should be closed permanently.
The group also called on police to punish entertainment establishments that allow patrons under the age of 20 to enter their premises, which is a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act's Article 29 and is punishable with a maximum one-year imprisonment and/or a maximum Bt20,000 fine. They also urged the city police chief to have all city police precincts strictly enforce the law especially on shops selling booze or entertainment establishments that are in the vicinity of educational institutions as underage people may have access to alcoholic drinks.
Superintendent Pol Colonel Somreuk Chaisukanyasant collected the petition on behalf of the city police chief and said he will present it to his superiors accordingly.