The prime minister's adviser Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang and 25 religious organisations in Thailand are running a campaign against the proposed sale of shares of liquor and cigarette companies on the stock market.

Maj-Gen Chamlong said he and the leaders of Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Sikh religious groups submitted a letter on Feb 2 to the Stock Exchange of Thailand board, in protest against the proposed sale of liquor and cigarette companies' shares on the stock market, after agreeing at last month's meeting that the expansion of these businesses was harmful to society, especially youngsters.

"Now, the mobilising of funds for the liquor business in the stock market has been proposed. If the plan goes through, it will cause grave damage to our society. Even without fund mobilisation, so many people are addicted to liquor and beer," the former Bangkok governor said.

According to their letter, the groups had held secret meetings on their protest plan to prevent it from being used by certain political parties in seeking votes during the general election.

Even the government was concerned about the impact of liquor and cigarettes and was running campaigns nationwide to protect the youth from such addiction.

Statistics by the World Health Organisation showed Thai people ranked 5th in the world as drinkers in 2000 and beer consumption in Thailand increased five-fold during 1989-2001.

The National Statistical Office reported that up to 18.6 million Thais, or 30% of the population, drank a total of 3,700 million litres of liquor and beer during 2003.