Public Health Minister Phinij Jarusombat, who chairs the National Committee on Alcohol Control, also hinted that the ban could be extended to other mediums, raising the possibility that alcohol marketers will engage in an aggressive price war to grow their market share. "A ban on alcohol advertising posters is also possible, as is zoning restrictions on restaurants serving alcohol," said the minister.
The ban is expected to take a huge bite out of the advertising and media industries. Nielsen Media Research figures show alcohol firms last year spent more than 2.6 billion baht (US$65.6 million) on advertising.
Industry sources say alcohol marketers will now be forced to cut prices to keep their brands in the public's eye.
Thailand extends alcohol ads ban
Thailand has instituted an all-day ban on alcohol advertising on radio and TV, except for pass-through ads that come with international sports programmes.