City plans to put age-limit on liquor stores
Image by Leonid Mamchenkov
South China Morning Post reports that Hong Kong is planning on placing an age limit on the sale of liquor in convenience stores and shops across the city.
The sale of liquor to minors is banned in the city’s clubs and bars but convenience stores like 7-11 are free to sell alcohol to minors without checking ID.
According to the report, the move comes after the Food and Health Bureau received criticism that “Hong Kong is slipping behind other developed cities in its handling of underage drinking, and that it remains easy for teenagers to enjoy a tipsy night.”
A spokeswoman for the bureau said to SCMP, “The proposed statutory regulatory regime will cover all forms of commercial sale and supply of alcohol, including internet sale … and from the vending machine,” confirming the plan to ban sale to minors.
Should the proposed legislation pass, sellers will also have to put up sign stating that no alcohol will be sold to anyone below the age of 18.
In Thailand, the drinking age was increased from the previous 15 years to 20 years of age in 2008 as per the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.
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I feel like kids will always find a way to get their hands on booze. When I was in school, the boys would find alcohol even though it was illegal. I do commend Hong Kong for finally recognizing this as a problem
20 years seems a bit excessive. Most Southeast Asian countries usually keep 18 as the legal drinking age. I’ve run into my fair share of drunken Thai kids so I dont know if thats being enforced all that much. Drinking and driving also goes unregulated here. The reason for many road accidents here. Best to get your last will drafted by a Thai probate lawyer before someone prematurely hits the bucket for you.