The Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Cambodia is in the process of drafting a law to prevent and reduce alcohol harm by reducing alcohol consumption.
A crucial population are Cambodia’s young people, whose alcohol intake has been steadily increasing as the alcohol industry keeps targeting them.
The new law would not only ban sales of alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. It is also designed to put in place higher taxes on alcohol sales. Civil society campaigners for public health, development and democracy say the government should also require alcohol vendors to obtain liquor licenses. Alcohol harm is an obstacle to development in Cambodia.
Authorities say they hope an age requirement will better protect young people from alcohol harm such as poor individual health, domestic violence and traffic accidents.
“The age of 21 is enough for them to understand the difficulties derived from alcohol consumption,” explained Minister of Health Mam Bunheng.
“[It] is a way of educating our youth to change their attitudes and reduce alcohol consumption.”
