Tighter limits proposed for game shops

YOUTH CULTURE

The Culture Ministry is proposing new time limits for online game shops as part of efforts to solve gaming addiction among young people.

The draft ministerial regulation states children aged under 15 will only be allowed in online computer game shops from 2pm to 8pm, Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 8pm on weekends and holidays.

Youths aged 15-18 will be allowed to stay until 10pm.

Shops serving youngsters during prohibited hours will be closed for up to 90 days or have their operating licence revoked.

The proposed rules will be submitted for cabinet consideration next week.

The new rules would override the regulations issued by the Interior Ministry, which allow youngsters aged under 18 to go to online game shops from 2pm to 10pm.

Youth advocates have criticised the draft regulations for failing to place a maximum limit on game-playing time a day.

Anya-orn Panitpuengrat, head of the Family Network, yesterday said a three-hour limit was crucial to prevent game addiction among the young.

The network would fight on to have the clause included in the regulations, she said.

Panpimol Lohtrakul, director of the Mental Health Department's Rajanukul Institute, said research had confirmed that youngsters who spent three hours a day playing computer games were at risk of addiction.

She suggested parents limit the time children play computer games to less than three hours a day and persuade them to do other activities.

In some countries, special computer systems have been installed at game venues to limit a user's playing time, Dr Panpimol said.