[Intl-tobacco] Thai Tobacco Monopoly `promoted smoking' during Asian Games

[Robert Weissman]

Bangkok Post
October 23, 2002
Tobacco Monopoly `promoted smoking' during Asian Games

Aphaluck Bhatiasevi

 The Public Health Ministry says the Tobacco Monopoly of Thailand
indirectly promoted smoking by sponsoringtelevised broadcasts of the
Asian Games, and has urged the Finance Ministry to look into the matter.

Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said the National Committee on
the Control of Tobacco Use had sent a letter to Finance Minister Somkid
Jatusripitak, urging him to investigate whether the agency breached the
1992 Tobacco Consumption Control Law, which prohibited all forms of
publicity for tobacco products and associated logos.

The tobacco monopoly's logo regularly appeared on the top left corner of
television screens during live broadcasts of the Games from South Korea.

Such an act was considered an attempt to boost the agency's image, and
therefore illegal, Mrs Sudarat said.

Mr Somkid had been asked to look into the matter as the tobacco monopoly
fell under the jursidiction of the Finance Ministry.

The chief of the tobacco monopoly could not immediately be reached for comment.

In addition, the Public Health Ministry was preparing to change the
warnings that appear on cigarette packaging by next year in an effort to
make them more prominent.

The warnings would likely include colour pictures depicting the adverse
effects of smoking.