Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate legal measures on the control of youth alcohol consumption and their enforcement problems, and to propose guidelines for proper solutions. This study was conducted through documentary research, interview, questionnaire, observation, and content analysis. The research findings were as follows: 1) Many legal measures were implemented to control youth alcohol consumption, such as alcoholic beverage control, selling zone restriction, buyer and consumer age restriction, and high-rate tax imposition; 2) The enforcement problems occurred by law enforcement officers, alcoholic beverage entrepreneurs, and the youth attitude towards the alcohol consumption. This study proposed proper guidelines to solve the enforcement problems of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of B.E. 2551 to control the youth consumption as follows: 1) Section 29 of the Act should be amended to authorize the seller, in case the age of the buyer is in doubt, to ask for identification card or other related legal documents that can prove the age of the buyer; 2) Extra fees for selling alcohol within 500 meters from an education institution should be set at a very high rate, and no street food seller shall be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages; 3) Section 32 of the Act should be amended to No person shall advertise or display the name or trademark of any alcoholic beverage; 4) Penalty of imprisonment and fine should be set higher; 5) Section 28 of the Act should be amended to from 11.00 a.m. of the next day except the places where selling alcoholic beverages is allowed only for consumption in those places.