An overwhelming 96 per cent of Cambodians want the government to take measures to reduce alcohol consumption, a Royal University of Phnom Penh survey has found.
The survey released yesterday of 2,104 adults in four provinces also found 93 per cent want the government to ban all alcohol adverts, while 75 per cent want alcohol taxes increased.
Dr Mom Kong, director of survey co-sponsor Cambodia Movement for Health, said the survey – which was conducted in late 2014 – lends support to the adoption of new alcohol regulations.
“We don’t want our Cambodian human resources [exhausted] by alcohol everywhere,” said Kong, adding that increased regulation could reduce traffic accident fatalities.
The government is considering draft laws to reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption. Kong said measures recommended in the survey included: increasing alcohol taxes, banning alcohol advertisements, restricting the places that could sell alcohol and bringing in age restrictions for purchasing alcohol.
Starting from October last year, local television and radio stations were ordered to restrict alcohol advertisements between 6pm and 8pm. A total ban between those hours came into full effect this month.
