July 6, 2020
Draft alcohol law: Striking a balance between health and revenue

In 2015 and 2016, a series of health reports regarding the consumption of alcohol and its effect on society raised questions about the lack of an alcohol law in the Kingdom, amid which the government began drafting what would be its first ever enshrined liquor legislation.

The first report, by the World Health Organisation in 2015, detailed the extent of drinking among youths in the Asean region and evidenced the rising prevalence of alcohol use among Cambodians.

A survey estimated that of citizens aged between 10 and 19, 81.4 percent of males and 57.6 percent of females had reported drinking alcohol.

The report said of these statistics: “8.09 percent of females and 1.11 percent of males identified themselves as heavy drinkers. The higher number of female heavy drinkers is due to many working in karaoke bars or nightclubs, where they are required to drink with their customers.”

It also stated that there was a further plethora of reasoning behind alcohol consumption among that age group, with both personal, peer, family and societal pressures playing a part in encouraging young people to drink.

Alcohol use was also linked to early sexual debut, unsafe sexual practices and violence within that age range, the report added.

The second report in 2016 by The Asia Foundation, which was part of the Preventing Intimate Violence Project, was produced to study in detail the alcohol industry in Cambodia and its linkages to concerning statistics regarding violence against women, as one in five ever-partnered women reported experiencing physical or sexual violence.

Indeed, the report found that alcohol consumption has many detrimental effects on Cambodian society, particularly for women.

“It is responsible for more than 60 major types of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS and many unintentional deaths and injuries as seen through the large number of alcohol-related traffic accidents,” it said.

Relaxed measures

The report also attempted to explore rules and regulations surrounding alcohol use in Cambodia, but found there was little regulation of the alcohol industry or over the advertising of related products and very few, if any, measures in place to protect consumers.

“There is no minimum drinking age, no limitations on the sale or advertisement of alcohol and Cambodia has some of the lowest taxes on alcohol products in the region.”

“Although there is a blood alcohol limit for driving and a directive banning alcohol advertisement during peak night-time television and on some national holidays, enforcement is inadequate and there are no health warning requirements on any alcohol or in any alcohol advertisements,” the report said.

The report evidenced, particularly regarding advertising, how it influenced young people and their idea of alcohol consumption as being trendy and socially acceptable.

However, despite the rising levels of alcohol consumption forecast from their research, five years on, the draft law is still not finalised and is instead sitting with the Health Ministry.

Although still in draft stage, the law itself stipulates a minimum drinking age of 21 with retailers who violate the law culpable for fines of an as yet undisclosed amount. It also proposes limitation on advertising. However it does not outline what the specifics of these will be; one would assume that they will be in line with more global laws such as the inclusion of health warnings.

The draft law also states that the sale of alcohol would be prohibited between midnight and 6 am, with again the assumption of fines for retailers breaking this law.
Full article: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50741690/d ... d-revenue/

"A plethora of reasoning". What a great phrase. It is now my goal to use that in a conversation. Now for the funny part: no alcohol sales between midnight and 6am....well I am always asleep before midnight so that's ok, but who would want to start getting stonkered at 6 in the morning? Why not from midnight to midday the next day?

I have no idea why people drink so much, apart from the general despair and the occasional heat. I mean, it's not like it's constantly showed as a great hobby, right ?

Not to mention those 'the more you drink the more you get' ringpull prizes

I hope they bring in laws regarding the manufacturing of rice wine in the villages. As much as I hate all rules and regulations there needs to be something done about the amount of violence caused by drunken rice farmers and the problems it causes in rural families.

Drinking Age Limit for Adults Planned for Traffic Safety Enhancement
AKP Phnom Penh, May 05, 2022 --

Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), in cooperation with Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and Ministry of Health, is planning to limit the drinking age for adults to enhance traffic safety and reduce traffic accidents.

The information was shared by H.E. Sun Chanthol, Senior Minister and Minister of MPWT, while receiving a delegation of US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC) led by its Regional Managing Director and Senior Vice President H.E. Amb. Michael Michalak, at the ministry office on May 4.

Drink driving is one of major causes of road accidents in Cambodia. Other main causes include overspeeding, illegal overtaking, disrespect of driving rights, and so on.

In 2021, Cambodia registered in total 2,670 road accidents, killing 1,497 people and injuring 3,615 others, down 9 and 23 percent respectively compared to the incidents in 2020.
- AKP

This is a positive step. Happy hours are banned in many parts of the world, and I doubt ring pull prizes would be allowed.

Their draft could include: "Foreigners will be required to step up to the plate, and make up the numbers."

Not really a smart move, where there is an age limit enforced the people drink more and/or teenagers take drugs instead

It's parents responsibility not state responsibility