BANGKOK, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- The conglomerate that owns all Thai 7-Eleven stores agreed to temporarily cease selling draft beer following protests by anti-alcohol networks on Friday, local media reported.
A representative from CP All, the food giant who runs the country's ubiquitous 7-Eleven convenience stores confirmed that the company would suspend the service of draft beer machines in the stores, according to local media.
7-Eleven began a trial of draft beer pouring machines recently. It's reported that the taps have been available at 18 stores in Bangkok and its neighboring provinces.
The debut of the service has been intervened by public health department.
"They complied with every step of law," said Asadang, spokesman of the Department of Disease Control under the Public health ministry, after inspecting the service.
He explained that the machine had labels attached to obscure beer brands' logos, and the machine is operated by store staff, which are fully within the law.
The conclusion has drawn criticism from the Youth Network of New Face Drinker Prevention, and the Stop Drink Network, who have staged protests against the service.
They said it encourages people to drink alcohol in public, unlike bottled or canned beer which is usually consumed at home. They also believes the idea of draft beer in convenience store might attract new drinkers.
"Once you pump the draft beer from the machine, you have to finish it immediately otherwise it would lose its freshness. This makes people to drink in public, which increases possibilities of drunk driving," said Kamron Chudecha from the networks.
Sale of alcohol is tightly regulated in Thailand, where alcohol cannot be sold at certain times of the day or on holy Buddhist days. Advertisement of alcohol is forbidden.
