Advocacy group, Alcohol Watch, has urged the Public Health Ministry to get tough on drinking competitions after a man died while taking part in a beer chugging event last Saturday.
Coordinator Kamron Chudecha and members of the Youth Network of New Face Drinker Prevention group, on Wednesday submitted a petition to the ministry, calling for the strict enforcement of alcohol laws against organisers of such drinking competitions. The move follows reports of a man dying during a beer drinking competition in Phetchaburi on June 29.
"Police should treat this issue seriously and the state must step in to create better public awareness about the dangers of this kind of drinking," said Mr Kamron. He said promoting such an event breaches the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.
The public health minister's adviser, Kittisak Klabdee, who accepted the petition, said the man was found to have a blood alcohol level measuring 400 milligrammes per deciliter, above the safe limit of 300 mg/dL. Chugging beer can potentially cause someone to stop breathing, he said.
The dead man was reported to have entered the beer contest during an office party at a hotel. His company had hired a party organiser to entertain the staff.
Office of the Alcohol Control Committee deputy chief, Pongtorn Chartpituck, said the organiser and the man's employers could be subject to criminal charges.
Department of Disease Control director-general, Suwanchai Watthanayingcharoenchai, said officials from the Office of Disease Prevention and Control 5 were working with the Phetchaburi public health office investigating the tragedy.