Many shops selling alcoholic drinks sprang up near educational institutions between 2009 and 2014, triggering regulations banning them from being located too close to universities.
The study on the density of retailers selling alcohol near universities in Bangkok was revealed by Pattaraporn Ponpanatham, a lecturer at Suan Sunandha Rajaphat University's Faculty of Management Science, at the 9th National Alcohol Conference.
The meeting was co-organised by Centre for Alcohol Studies and Thai Health Promotional Foundation in Bangkok last week.
The study showed many retailers selling alcohol had set up shop near universities between 2009 and 2014.
The study found that between 2009-2014, the number of shops selling alcohol increased by 342 near Chulalongkorn University; by 124 near the King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL); by 104 near the Dhurakij Bundit University; by 99 near the Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon Borpitpimuk Campus; and by 95 near the Kasetsart University.
The number of shops selling alcoholic beverages jumped by 82 near the Dhonburi Rajabhat University and Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University; by 67 near the Srinakharinwirot University; by 44 near the Chandrakasem Rajabhat University; by 39 near the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce; by 22 near the Ramkhamhaeng University; and by 18 near the Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University and Suan Dusit University, according to the study.
Many of these shops' locations would now breach the regulation imposed by the National Committee for Alcohol Consumption Control last year banning alcohol shops from being set up within 300 metres of universities, colleges and schools.
According to the numbers from 2014, there were 28 shops that would now violate the ban near the KMITL; 153 near the Chulalongkorn University; 117 shops near Mahidol University; 117 shops near the Mahidol University; 115 shops near the Huachiew Chalermprakiet University; 108 shops near Thammasat University; and 45 shops near Rangsit University.
After the national committee issued the ban, the National Council for Peace and Order imposed restrictions on alcohol sales with heavy penalties for any pub or nightclub that allows entry to people aged under 20 or operates after the legal closing time of midnight.
Activists have repeated their calls for strict enforcement of the ban on the sale of alcohol near educational institutions, saying it is the key to reducing drinking among youths.
Crackdowns on alcohol sales have been launched in the past but that campaign has started slowing down lately.
The Youth Network Against New Drinkers said earlier that more youths were drinking now despite the 300-metre radius ban.
According to a survey by Huachiew Chalermprakiet University conducted earlier this year, 94.2% of students -- from four universities that include King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi and Rangsit University -- who frequent bars near their universities admit to drinking regularly.