After a 3 hour debate the Alcohol Control Bill passed the first reading in yesterday's National Legislative Assembly meeting according to media sources.  The bill provides for a ban on all alcohol advertising, an increase in the age at which people are permitted to buy alcohol and the designation of alcohol free zones.

Insurers warned yesterday that life insurance premiums would rise after the Life Insurance Act is amended.  According to media sources life insurers are in opposition to the act as they believe insurers are already sufficiently protected under the legal reserve system.  The amended act would require insurers to contribute between .25% and .5% of premiums to a government fund that would be used to compensate consumers in the event that an insurer becomes insolvent.

Media sources reported that a provision providing for a 12 year government sponsored education, as well as decentralization of the government, were two issues debated by the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) in yesterday's meeting.  The education provision will reportedly be written into the new constitution, whereas, local election of provincial governors will not be included due to fear of political autonomy in the Deep South.  The charter drafters aim to have the first draft completed by 19 April.

Media sources report that a public health organization has begun campaigning to collect signatures from members of the public in support of anti-alcohol legislation.   The organization supports the passage of a bill which will raise the minimum age for buying alcohol from 18 to 20 and impose a total ban on alcohol advertising.  The bill is said to be heavily imposed by interest groups from the alcohol industry who are lobbying hard for the passage of a watered down version of the bill.

According to government sources, a panel of the Constitution Drafting Assembly has decided that the public will vote on the constitution in its entirety instead of only 10 articles as originally suggested by some members of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).  The referendum ballot is to have two boxes "accept" or "reject".

According to media sources, a female drafter of the Constitution Drafting Assembly is worried that the new constitution will not promote gender equality.  The drafter, one of only three females on the Constitution Drafting Committee, supports the addition of a clause requiring any law contrary to the principle of gender equality to be revised or discarded. She also advocates for the use of non-discriminatory language, wherein a single title, equivalent to the current usage of the English word "Miss", would be used to describe females regardless of their marital status.

According to media sources, the Office of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand held a press conference yesterday to oppose the decision to accelerate the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between Thailand and Japan.  Representatives from non-profit organizations are worried the FTA will have negative consequences on Thailand.  In its current state, the FTA would allow Japan to control micro-organism patents and may allow toxic wastes to be dumped in Thailand.

Members of the National Legislative Assembly introduced an alcohol control bill to the assembly according to government sources.  The bill would prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol in specified places, ban the promotion of liquor through giveaways and contests, and give alcoholics more access to government support during rehabilitation.  The Public Health Ministry has drafted a similar bill which is currently being scrutinized by the Council of State.

The Ministry of Commerce has suggested setting aside 200 million baht for businesses who can prove they have been adversely affected by Thailand's Free Trade Agreements.  A Ministry Official reported that monies from the fund would be used to conduct research to improve the productivity and competitiveness of Thailand's industries, rather than be given directly to affected industries which could be a violation of World Trade Organization rules.

A panel of doctors, legal experts and feminists raised questions about a surrogacy bill draft at a recent forum according to media sources in attendance at the conference.  The draft includes a provision that would define a couple requesting another woman to carry their baby as the legal parents of the baby.  Payments to a surrogate mother or broker would be illegal and any surrogacy agreements would not have legal standing in court.  Experts criticized the bill for not protecting the rights of the surrogate baby or mother.

On 9 January 2007 the cabinet passed amendments to the Foreign Business Act of 1999 introduced by the Ministry of Commerce.  If the amendments become law several provisions of the Foreign Business Act would be repealed or modified.  The definition of "foreign" business entities would be modified to include entities where half or more of the voting rights are held by foreign nationals.  Thai business entities that would become foreign business entities operating in the restricted List One or the restricted List Two categories, under the amended definition, would be required to file for a certificate of authorization and would be allowed to continue to operate as a foreign company in restricted List One or restricted List Two for two years.  Thai business entities that would become a foreign business entity operating in List Three would be allowed to carry out their business indefinitely provided they were issued a Certificate of Authorization.  Persons or business entities in violation of certain provisions of the Foreign Business Act (including the provision prohibiting the use of nominee shareholders) would be required to alert the Ministry of Commerce and would have one year to restructure their company to be in accordance with the law.  Fines levied for violation of certain provisions of the Foreign Business Act would be increased or modified.  List Three of industries restricted to foreigners would also be slightly modified. 

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanot is scheduled to host a meeting with 800 blue-collar workers to discuss working and environmental conditions according to government sources. The main topics under consideration include revising the minimum wage in accordance with the real cost of living and the establishment of a new governmental organization to oversee occupational safety.