Thirty representatives from Thailand Alcohol Watch and the Youth Network of New Face Drinker Prevention yesterday submitted a petition demanding the Office of the Private Education Commission (Opec) investigate and punish Montfort College, a private school in Chiang Mai, for allowing alcohol sales on its premises.
The group claimed that on Feb 2 the school allowed its alumni to host a homecoming party on its campus. It said the event included a beer garden where attendees could buy alcoholic beverages and food from kiosks.
"The event was clearly against the law as the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and the National Council for Peace and Order prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol on the premises of educational institutions," said Thailand Alcohol Watch secretary Wanchai Poonchuy.
Mr Wanchai said his group has provided all evidence to Opec and urged the agency to look into the matter and punish school executives who are responsible for the wrongdoing.
The group also demanded that Opec and the Ministry of Education be more rigorous in preventing educational institutions from organising events where alcoholic beverages are served.
"Schools are places where we educate our children, not where people get drunk, so they must be dry. We want this case to set an example for other schools," Mr Wanchai said.
Unamused members of prohibition groups showed photos from the Saturday alumni party. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
The Bangkok Post contacted Montfort College director Brother Sakda Sakonthawat for comment but has received no reply.
Opec secretary-general Chalam Attham said he has ordered the Chiang Mai Provincial Education Office to set up a committee to investigate the incident and issued a letter informing schools nationwide not to hold events that include alcohol.
"I've seen photos and video clips provided as evidence by the anti-alcohol group and have to admit that what happened on Feb 2 is against the law," he said.
Mr Chalam said he had spoken with Montfort College's director and was informed that the school had already told the alumni not to serve alcohol at the party, but was told they "just didn't listen".