The business sector has urged the withdrawal of a draft regulation banning alcohol sales within a 300-metre radius of educational institutions.
They complain it targets a limited group, new drinkers, while standing to put thousands of people out of work as outlets near education establishments are forced to close.
Balance is needed as the government contemplates whether to adopt the regulation, they say.
The draft, which is widely backed by health groups, will be proposed to the National Committee for Alcohol Beverage Policy, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong tomorrow.
If the draft is endorsed, it will take effect in 30 days after being declared in the Government Gazette.
The government's Committee for Alcohol Beverage Control, chaired by Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin, approved the draft banning alcohol sales within a 300-metre radius of universities and vocational colleges on June 18.
Thanakorn Kuptajit, president of Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association (Tabba), estimates about 125,000 employees will lose their jobs while some tourist areas such as Khao San Road and the Sukumvit area also stand to be affected as lower sales will result.
He also voiced his concern the ban will encourage illegal activity such as more bribes being paid to officials to turn a blind eye to alcohol sales in the prohibited zone.
Some laws already help prevent young drinkers such as the law limiting sales of alcohol to people aged below 20, he said.
"The law was written to ban alcohol sales, not drinking. It will not prevent youth from drinking," argued Mr Thanakorn, adding drinkers still can buy alcohol from shops outside the prohibited zone.
Alcohol was part of social activity but the solution is how to educate consumers to be responsible drinkers.
Mr Thanakorn also expressed disappointment that business operators will be directly affected by the ban, even though they had little input to the regulation.
He urged the committee to make a balanced decision.
Business operators were concerned about youth health as they have run responsible drinking campaigns focusing on road safety and discouraging underage drinkers, he added.
Meanwhile, Chuwit Chantaros, secretary of the Alcohol Watch Network said the regulation would reduce drinking among young, first-time drinkers.
The ban will reduce access to alcohol or alcohol promotion campaigns near educational institutions.
The regulation is focused on new drinkers in youth and adolescence, rather than regular drinkers, he added.
Mr Chuwit said eight out of 10 youth at a juvenile detention centre, whose cases were related to drinking, admitted the distance to a shop selling alcohol was a factor in encouraging them to drink.
"They said if the shops were far way, they may not want to drink. They would not end up in the detention centre," Mr Chuwit said.
Research by the Health Invention and Technology Assessment Programme in 2010 discovered about 250,000 new drinkers emerge each year.
The Centre for Alcohol Studies (CAS) reports there were 2.5 million drinkers aged between 15 and 24 in 2011, a 2% increase from 2001. One third became regular drinkers.
In 2014, the CAS conducted another survey for alcohol outlets in a 500-metre radius of 11 universities in Bangkok and found about 7% of shops in dormitories or nearby illegally sell alcohol.
The research also found the number of entertainment venues around universities nationwide increases by 12% each year.
The existing law banning underage drinking is not enough to solve drinking problems, Mr Chuwit said.
Alcohol promotions would be less successful if there were fewer outlets near dormitories, universities and colleges selling alcohol, he said.
According to the Excise Department, Thai government earns about 100 billion baht in alcohol beverage tax each year.
"But the economic loss from alcohol related causes — including road accidents and health problems — could reach up to 150-160 billion baht a year," Mr Chuwit said.
"The loss is huge. Isn't the business sector making enough money from alcohol?"
He added the radius of the ban should be increased to 500 metres, to make the law more effective.