The sale and advertising of alcohol will be banned from online platforms starting on Monday, according to the Ministry of Public Health.
Violators will be subject to up to six months in prison and/or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, according to deputy police spokesman Pol Col Siriwat Deepho.
The ban aims to control a surge in alcohol consumption which has been driven by the use of online platforms to market beverages, according to Dr Niphon Chinanonwet, director of the Office of the Alcohol Control Committee under the ministry’s Department of Disease Control.
Dr Niphon cited recent research conducted by the Centre of Alcohol Studies on rising alcohol sales on online platforms such as Facebook, Line and other websites in Thailand. The study found social media platforms like Facebook have become the place to sell alcohol where tax has not been paid or for vendors who…
