SEOUL - Thailand shares the concerns of international organisations over the growing interference of the alcohol industry in public health policies meant to protect people from the harmful effects of booze, says a Thai Health Foundation (ThaiHealth) expert.
"They [the alcohol industry] have been trying very hard to weaken our alcohol controls," Supreda Adulyanon, deputy chief executive of ThaiHealth, which is funded by the government, said.
"They are major financiers of political parties, sponsors of sports and cultural activities and big advertisers in the media.
"This is why the progress of the alcohol control policy and tax hikes on liquor products has been very slow."
Mr Supreda was speaking on the sidelines of the opening of the second Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) in Seoul on Monday.
The three-day conference, co-organised by the London-based Global Alcohol Policy Alliance and South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare, kicked off with 700 delegates from more than 40 countries participating in the event.
Its aim is to encourage governments worldwide to implement the World Health Organisation's 2010 global strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm.
The first GAPC was held in Bangkok last year.
About 15 researchers from Thailand presented their papers on alcohol-related problems at the GAPC. The industry's attempts to weaken alcohol control policies are a big concern among health authorities and experts at the Seoul conference.
Mr Supreda said that although Thailand's 2008 Alcohol Control Act helps regulate alcohol consumption, more work is needed to prevent the industry from interfering in public health policy.
Shin Young-soo, the WHO's regional director for the Western Pacific, encouraged governments to implement the organisation's global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol through pricing, taxing and advertisement restricting policies.
"I know, however, that tougher and well-funded forces are trying to prevent the adoption of effective [public health] policies," the WHO regional director said.
"Government and intergovernmental organisations alone cannot counter these forces. Civil society and the public must join us to turn the WHO strategy into action."
Derek Rutherford, chairman of the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance, said many countries are facing the same problem.
He cited the case of Scotland where the Scotch Whisky Association is trying to derail the Scottish government's policy to set minimum prices on liquor products, aimed at limiting access to these products, especially among youth.
Mr Rutherford also mentioned an attempt by alcohol producers in South Africa to obstruct the passage of a law to ban alcohol advertisements and prohibit alcohol firms from sponsoring sports events.
Chang Bo Kim, director-general of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's health policy bureau, said alcohol producers used several strategies to boost their sales and to lure young people to buy their products.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government recently issued a local regulation to ban advertising of alcohol products in public places, such as public buses, bus stops and large billboards on high-rises.
"Alcohol companies have also hired female celebrities as presenters for their products. These celebrities are popular among Korean youngsters and they easily persuade youths to try alcoholic products," Mr Kim said.