Protest at British embassy over plans to tackle underage drinking in Thai youths

About 40 members of a network of anti-liquor organizations staged a brief rally in front of the British embassy on Thursday to protest against a joint effort by the embassy and a major liquor importer to stage activities to create positive attitude toward alcoholic drinks among Thai youths.

A protest note was later handed over to an embassy staff before the protesters dispersed.

Mr Kamron Chudecha, coordinator of the civil society groups, pointed out that similar activities undertaken the “Smashed” programme had been done before in several countries with liquor companies being the main sponsors.

Of late, the Office of Basic Education Commission launched the “Smashed” programme in cooperation with the British embassy and the Foundation to Solve Alcoholic Drinks purportedly to encourage youths to stay away from alcoholic drinks.

But Kamron alleged that the campaign was, in fact, intended to brainwash Thai youths to believe that consuming alcoholic drinks is normal in which case the real beneficiary will be the liquor producer and those in liquor business.

Thai PBS

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