BANGKOK, 29 November – A student prohibitionist group has pressed for the Ministry of Education to draw up and enforce new measures to ban any sale of alcohol near schools.
About 30 members of the new Juvenile Network for Preventing Young People from Becoming New Drinkers submitted a letter to Education Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana yesterday, demanding action be taken quickly on three issues.
The group wanted the education and public health ministries to work together to draw up proactive measures to ban or control the sale of alcohol in areas around schools and universities, and to show tangible results quickly.
The group suggested that regulations be drawn to ban all forms of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by alcohol-producing firms in academic institutions and agencies under them, including any sponsorship of school activities. They further called on academic institutions to organize campaigns stressing the adverse effects of alcohol consumption and related laws.
The network did not set any conditions for compliance from the state but have urged it in the best interests of the public.
By RADIO THAILAND & INSIGHT INFO
