Kampong Speu provincial governor Vei Samnang on May 24 ordered all business owners to remove alcoholic beverages advertising in public places within one week.
The announcement signed by Samnang said the provincial administration noted that many alcohol billboards had been erected along public roads in the province, resulting in damage to the environment and disrupting order in the province.
The provincial hall instructed all establishments that display such advertisements in front of their business or as a shop brand name on public sidewalks to remove them immediately.
“If the deadline is missed . . . the provincial administration will remove them with all costs charged to the owners.”
On May 20, Samnang chaired an emergency meeting with the Committee to Combat Covid-19 in the province, where he appointed a deputy provincial governor to enforce the ban on alcohol advertising.
Samnang praised the cooperation of some business owners who have already removed alcohol advertising, which he considered as setting a good example.
Mom Kong, executive director of the NGO Cambodia Movement for Health, said the removal of alcohol billboards in the province was a good start.
He said alcoholic drinks were the root cause of traffic accidents, cancer and domestic violence.
“[Some Cambodians] drink heavily, which is contrary to our government’s health guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
To curb alcohol advertising, Kong suggested that the government create a law to address the issue as alcohol advertising is “omnipresent”.
