[Intl-tobacco] Thailand: 7-Eleven wins support in cigarette ads debate

[Robert Weissman]

http://nationmultimedia.com/2005/11/04/headlines/index.php?news=3Dheadlines=
_19062998.html
The Nation (Thailand)

*_7-Eleven wins support in cigarette ads debate_*

*Published on November 04, 2005*

/The Council of State yesterday sided with the 7-Eleven
convenience-store chain in the dispute between the Public Health
Ministry and CP Seven Eleven Plc over the ban on cigarette displays at
points of sale. Porntip Jala, secretary-general of the Office of the
Council of State, ruled that cigarette advertising was only illegal if
it was intentional./

In a memorandum sent to the ministry=92s Disease Control Department, which
also oversees tobacco control, the council said illegal advertising
tactics included piling same-brand cigarette packets to attract
consumers or intentionally displaying cigarettes so that shoppers would
easily spot them.

However, the memorandum stated that the Council of State would recommend
an amendment to the law prohibiting all forms of cigarette displays if
the government intends to completely ban them in the future. The
ministry=92s ban on cigarette displays at points of sale came into effect
on September 24. The ministry insisted that the ban was constituted by
the 1992 Tobacco Product Control Act.

The Thailand Tobacco Monopoly asked the Council of State to interpret
the law and decide whether or not cigarette displays at points of sale
could be deemed as advertising, which is illegal under Thai law.

The Public Health Ministry vowed to take tough action against the chain
store when CP Seven Eleven resolved to ignore the ban.

Dr Narong Sahamethaphat, deputy director-general of the Disease Control
Department, said the ministry intended to file complaints with police
seeking the arrest of 7-Eleven operators who violated the ban.

Dr Hatai Chitanondh, chairman of the Thai Health Promotion Institute and
a member of the ministry=92s tobacco control committee, shrugged off the
Council of State=92s interpretation of the law.

=93Let the court rule - the Council of State is not the court,=94 he said.

Before the Council of State=92s interpretation of the displays, Crime
Suppression Division officials refused to take any action against CP
Seven Eleven operatives when they continued to display cigarette packets.

=93As the Council of State ruled, they need to make changes to the law if
they want to ban cigarette displays,=94 said Suwit Kingkaew,
vice-president of CP Seven Eleven.

He said 7-Eleven stores would continue its policy of displaying only 50
cigarette packets instead of 77, as it did before the ban.

Arthit Khwankhom

The Nation