The Phnom Penh Municipal Administration extended the ban on the sale of alcoholic drinks for another two weeks in the capital to contain Covid-19. Civil society organisations lauded the announcement and requested the administration to ban sales permanently.
The ban is effective through May 9-22.
“All markets, depots and restaurants have to continue to temporarily suspend alcoholic drink sales in Phnom Penh. Any individuals who continue to sell, distribute and circulate alcoholic drinks during this period will be punished,” said the administration in a directive on May 8.
Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng instructed the capital’s 14 district administrations to cooperate with the municipal Department of Commerce to inspect establishments to ensure the implementation of the directive.
“If any managers of markets, owners of depots or restaurants fail to follow, administrative and legal measures will be enforced on them without any exception,” he said.
In support of this ban, nearly 40 civil society organisations and associations on May 4 issued a joint statement urging the government to impose a permanent ban on alcoholic drink advertising. They also supported recent measures which were enforced to ban this type of advertising during the community outbreak of Covid-19.
Tim Vora, executive director of the HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee, one of the nearly forty organisations, hailed the measures, saying the ban helps contain Covid-19 while drinking alcohol was widely recognised as a danger to society.
“Alcohol affects our health, so we urge that alcohol advertising be reduced and stopped permanently. If the government thinks of people’s health, they should ban alcohol advertising forever. So, this is a good directive as it could reduce deaths,” he said.
