Banning Tobacco Product Advertising and Sales on the Internet
Research completed in April 2012 showed that the number of websites having tobacco product advertisements was 636 websites which is against the
Tobacco Products Control Act, B.E.2535 (1992). Moreover, those websites offering the sale of illegal tobacco products also violates the Computer Crime Act, BE 2550 (2007).
Therefore, the Academic department requests the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to urgently control these websites and to establish a cooperative committee including the Ministry of Information and Communication, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Finance in order to drive this issue against law breakers.
Problem situation
Nowadays, there are a lot of websites posting illegal tobacco products, making and selling various tobacco products through gaps in the government?s monitoring of these products. Survey results of ?The exchange markets of cigarettes / tobacco products on the internet?. Dr. Pichitpong Sunthorpiphit, an academic of the Faculty of Public Heath, Mahidol University conducted a survey of the ICB Web Gateway with results showing that there were 636 websites having advertisements selling cigarettes / tobacco products via internet in Thailand.
Direct and indirect advertising tobacco products, tobacco promotions, various tobacco product distribution through internet websites or bringing cigarettes / tobacco products that have not yet been reported their components are considered in violation of the law according to the Tobacco Products Control Act, B.E. 2535 (1992). Distributing tobacco products without registration as a distributor or omitting to pay the excise tax, and selling unauthorized tobacco products according to the excise department is also considered against the Tobacco Act B.E. 2509 (1966).
Besides, it is impossible to control selling tobacco products through the internet to buyers aged under 18. This is considered as selling illegal products through the internet which is against the legislation of the Computer Crime Act. BE 2550 (2007).
Policy suggestion
- Request to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to urgently control website advertising and sales of tobacco products.
- Request to establish a cooperative committee including the Ministry of Information and Communication, the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Finance to address this issue of law breakers.
