A group representing 3,400 businesses nationwide says 125,000 jobs will be lost immediately if a proposed ban on alcohol sales within 300 metres of educational institutions is enacted.
The network, comprised of members of the Thai Retailers Association, Thai Hotel Association, Thai Food Traders Association, Khaosan Business Association, Thai Wine Association and Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association, said the regulations drafted by the Prime Minister's Office and set to be considered Friday by the National Alcoholic Beverage Policy Commission also would have unintended negative impacts on shopping malls and supermarkets while failing to address the root cause of underage drinking.
The government's Alcohol Control Committee on June 18 approved the proposal by the PM's Office to ban alcohol sales within a 300-metre radius of universities and vocational colleges. The regulations were drafted after studies showed the number of outlets where booze was available near schools had jumped 72% in the past five years.
But the business group complained in a statement released Thursday that the order, drafted without input from affected businesses, "does not appear to take into account its impact on business, employment, tourism and the economy".
"Our initial estimates indicate that 125,000 jobs will be lost immediately upon the enactment of this declaration," the statement said. "Its enforcement could lead to the closure of entertainment and service venues, while the cessation of alcoholic beverage sales -- or forced relocation -- among shopping malls and restaurants would have considerable effects on each business' ability to compete and carry out various activities, eventually leading up to job cuts that would affect not only the departing employees but also their families."
Representatives from a youth network for prevention of new alcohol users seek a ban on alcohol sales within 500 metres around universities on June 3. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin, who chairs the ACC, said earlier that licensed hotels and bars already located near educational institutions will be allowed to continue selling alcohol and would be exempt from the ban. Only new vendors would be prohibited.
The business group pointed out, however, that "sales of beverage alcohol are not limited to just entertainment and service venues. Instead, sales also take place via retailers, wholesalers, shopping malls, restaurants and food outlets, hotels and tourist attractions as well as the premises of the manufacturers, importers and manufacturing facilities".
"In essence, the declaration would make certain areas completely off-limits to the sale of beverage alcohol, and there would be unresolved issues regarding the exact definition of the 300-metre radius in practice," the network said it its statement.
Alcohol sales near universities in Bangkok remain prevalent, with 2,869 retailers operating within a 500-metre radius of 15 universities, the Centre for Alcohol Studies has found.
The regulation also intends to reduce social problems associated with alcohol consumption, including loud noise, brawls and assaults. Its promulgation came after the murder of a footballer from Rangsit University in early June following an exchange of dirty looks at a pub near the university.
The business group claimed, however, that the proposal "fails to directly address the root cause behind the issue of underage drinking".
"The declaration concerns a suspension of sales, not consumption. The network believes that the current ban on sales of beverage alcohol to minors below 20 years of age is already an effective measure for tackling underage drinking and even carries a heavier penalty for offenders, although there remains work to be done in terms of strict enforcement and encouragement of responsible conduct among buyers and sellers," it said.
Dr Rajata admitted earlier that the ban is only one of several measures needed to deter students' consumption of alcohol. "More work needs to be done to reduce the number of student drinkers," he said.
The ACC intends to meet university rectors nationwide to discuss further measures to prevent students drinking alcohol. The proposal also is backed by students from several universities.
"The network stands by its commitment to support government policies that prevent underage consumption of beverage alcohol through the use of appropriate, fair and effective measures," the statement said. However, "the network hereby declares its opposition to the ACC's draft declaration ... and propose that any and all future laws pertaining to beverage alcohol are developed with full consideration of their impact, taking into account the opinions of all connected stakeholders".