The National Legislative Assembly’s special committee in Thailand is currently drafting a new alchohol bill in an attempt to reduce the negative effects alchohol is having on the country and it’s culture and encourage people to give up drinking.

The initial idea was to try to ban people from selling alchohol anywhere near schools and temples. This made many people nervous, especially hotelliers, as many hotels are located in the close vacinity to temples, especially in the Chiang Mai province.

Tuang Anthachai, a committee spokesman, said that the bill would only ban selling alchohol inside temple and and school compounds as the bill is not designed to ruin tourism-related businesses.

As part of the ban, liquor advertising would no longer be allowed on tableware in hotels and restaurants, resulting in a loss of an estimated five billion baht per year.

Businesses complained that the advertisement ban would reduce their competiveness in neighbouring countries.

The special panel said it would look seriously into the complaints, but dismissed a request to let businesses self-censor instead.

What do you think? Do you think banning alchohol sales near schools and temples is a good idea? How upset would you be if you were no longer allowed to buy alchohol at the hotel you were staying?